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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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RAINFALL
THE FOLLOWING TABLE GIVES THE NUMBER OF RAINY DAYS and
average rainfall recorded at a few raingauge stations in Kolhapur district.
TABLE No. 6.
KOLHAPUR RAINFALL RETURNS.
(Average of 13 years from 1939-40 to 1951-52).
|
Stations. |
Approximate distance from the Sahyadries. (Miles.) |
Pre-monsoon.
|
Monsoon.
|
|
1st April-31st May- |
1st June-30th September. |
|
No. of rainy days. |
Rainfall. |
No. of rainy days. |
Rainfall. |
1. Gagan Bavada |
0 |
6 |
6.8 |
106 |
242.0 |
2. Radhanagari |
6 |
6 |
4.7 |
88 |
137.7 |
3. Gargoti |
26 |
6 |
4.8 |
69 |
55.5 |
4. Kolhapur |
40 |
7 |
4.6 |
52 |
32.5 |
5. Kapshi |
45 |
5 |
4.9 |
43 |
29.4 |
6. Gadhinglaj |
34 |
8 |
5.8 |
51 |
24.9 |
7. Vadgaon |
50 |
7 |
5.9 |
42 |
23.4 |
8. Shirol |
66 |
6 |
3.8 |
32 |
14.9 |
9. Kurundwad* |
-- |
4 |
2.5 |
23 |
10.8 |
* From 1936-37 to 1948-49.
continued.
|
Stations. |
Post-monsoon.
|
Winter.
|
Total. |
|
1st October-30th November. |
1st December-31st March. |
|
No. of rainy days. |
Rainfall. |
No. of rainy days. |
Rainfall. |
No. of rainy days. |
Rainfall. |
1. Gagan Bavada |
12 |
14.8 |
1 |
1.0 |
125 |
264.6 |
2. Radhanagari |
9 |
6.6 |
1 |
1.0 |
104 |
150.0 |
3. Gargoti |
10 |
7.5 |
1 |
1.0 |
86 |
68.6 |
4. Kolhapur |
9 |
7.4 |
1 |
1.8 |
69 |
46.3 |
5. Kapshi |
7 |
5.8 |
1 |
1.0 |
56 |
41.1 |
6. Gadhinglaj |
8 |
7.1 |
1 |
1.9 |
68 |
39.7 |
7. Vadgaon |
8 |
5.6 |
1 |
1.3 |
58 |
36.4 |
8. Shirol |
7 |
6.6 |
1 |
2.7 |
46 |
28.0 |
9. Kurundwad* |
6 |
3.6 |
½ |
0.5 |
33.5 |
17.4 |
Data and number of stations are not sufficient to bring out that rainfall decreases from South to North on the Sahyadries and that altitudes also make difference in the rainfall received at different places. Region with higher altitude in the north gets more rain than that with similar altitude in the south. In spite of insufficient data, however, the table vividly brings out the marked variation in rainfall from West to East. It may be stated broadly that the range between the maximum and the minimum is large and vagaries of rainfall are great. It is indeed rightly said that in Kolhapur district rainfall changes from mile to mile.
Due to variation in rainfall from year to year (and from place to place) it is difficult to divide the district into distinct rainfall zones. On the basis of rainfall returns for a series of years, however, three broad divisions may be defined; (i) the western zone, receiving heavy and assured rainfall and comprising the talukas of Shahuwadi, Panhala (part), Radhanagari, Bhudargad, Ajra and Bavda; (ii) the central zone, receiving moderate but fairly regular rainfall and comprising Panhala (part), Karvir (part), Kagal (part), and Gadhinglaj talukas; and (iii) the eastern zone, receiving irregular and uncertain rainfall and comprising the talukas of Hatkanangle, Shirol, Karvir (part) and Kagal (part).
It should be clear from the table that most of annual rainfall (kharif rains, so to say) of the district takes place between June and November. During June-September, the district receives highest rainfall from the south-west monsoon. By the end of September, the south-west monsoon loses its strength and gives way to the north-east monsoon, which provides rabi rain to the eastern part of the district. The middle part of the district gets some rain from the north-east monsoon which is helpful for rabi sowing and for sugarcane. The eastern part has to depend on the rains of this monsoon for the maturing of jowar and wheat. |
