AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

RAINFALL

It is a well-known fact that rainfall is a prime determinant of the nature and scope of crops in a particular region. On it also depends the adjustment of agricultural operations. The extent and spacing of rainfall perhaps explain for the different culturable practices that obtain in varying degrees between the regions. Afforestation and grow-more-food-campaign are taken up by the Government, because they are activities complementary to each other inasmuch as afforestation helps keep up rainfall and, in consequence, proves to be conducive to good growth of crops. The district receives rains from the south-west monsoons, which commence usually with the opening of June and last till the end of September. Ante-monsoon showers visit in May. Occasionally, north-east monsoon showers occur in October-November, but rarely more than twice in the entire rainy season. The following table gives the average rainfall obtaining in most of the talukas of the district'—

TABLE No. 8

KOLABA RAINFALL RETURNS

(AVERAGE RAINFALL IN INCHES)
[Based on the rainfall of fifty-eight years from 1901-02 to 1958-59.]

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