 |
AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
|
 |
CO-OPERATIVE FARMING
For stepping up agricultural production and for ensuring economic cultivation an increase in the size of holding is necessary. In this regard co-operative farming, which implies pooling of land and management, bears direct relevance. Without undermining the sense of proprietorship and the incentive it provides to industry co-operative farms can enjoy all the advantages that a large unit possesses.
There are four kinds of co-operative societies. The. description of each is given below:-
(1) Co-operative Collective Farming Society.-The society
cultivates the land which it owns or takes on lease. No dividend
is paid on share capital. Members get wages for their work and
in case of profits, a bonus is paid in proportion to their wages. They also have the option to withdraw from such a society in which case they get back their capital. There were two such societies in the district, one at Kankavli and the other at Khed.
(2) Co-operative Tenancy Fanning Society.-The Society owns land or gets it on lease but does not carry on farming by itself. Land is divided into blocks and each block is given on rent to a cultivator who has to cultivate according to the plan laid down by the society, It also gives various facilities to its members regarding seed, finance, and implements. There was only one society of the type in Malvan taluka.
(3) Co-operative Better Farming Society.-In this type of society, the ownership and management of land rest with the individual. The society provides better seeds, adequate manures and facilities for irrigation, storage and marketing. There were nine such societies in the district, two at Sawantwadi, three at Kankavli, three at Malvan and one at Ratnagiri. Though the societies by their very nature could have become popular in the district, they have not made much headway so far,
(4) Co-operative Joint Farming Society.-Under this, small pieces of land are pooled together into an economic unit. However, the ownership rests with the individual members. It ensures the advantages of large scale fanning and helps to solve the problem of sub-division and fragmentation. All the three societies registered so far are in Rajapur taluka.
|
