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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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FLOODS
Floods rarely occur in this district. Though floods have sometimes been recorded, they were mainly caused by excessive rains and rapid filling and overflowing of the mountain streams and, therefore, were short-lived.
In July 1909, eleven inches of rain-fall at Chiplun during eight hours raised the level of river-water four feet above the then highest flood level, submerging about half of the town. Many houses collapsed resulting in a total damage of Rs. 80,000. The extent of damage done to crops was also considerable.
1931.
On 13th July 1931 heavy rainfall of 13.55 inches caused floods
in Rajapur taluka, destroying 147 houses and inflicting a loss of the
order of Rs. 24,300. The assistance given by Government to the
public by way of monetary help amounted to Rs. 20,000.
1938.
A flood occurred in Ratnagiri taluka in October 1938 and destroyed crops of an estimated value of Rs. 10,000. Help was extended in the form of remission of land revenue.
1958.
Heavy rains on 25th June 1958 were the cause of a flood which
lasted for about 24 hours affecting an area of 6,809 acres and 3,665
people. Seven persons lost their lives. A District Flood Relief
Committee was soon formed to raise a fund for the relief of the flood-striken. Cash doles worth Rs. 1,978 were distributed. Besides foodgrains, tagavi loans to the extent of Rs. 71,028 were granted to farmers whose crops had been damaged by the flood.
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EDUCATION ETC.
Agronomic research on different problems connected with agricul- ture is being conducted at research centres established in the district. It relates to plant breeding work, investigations on diseases and pests of crops. Production of mango, cashew-nut, betel-nut, jack fruit, cocoanut etc., some of which have considerable demand even in foreign markets, has attracted attention of the Government who have taken up the matter of their development.
Cocoanut Research.
It is with this object in view that the first cocoanut research centre in the State was established in July 1955 at Bhatye near Ratnagiri. The expenditure on this Centre is borne jointly by the State Government and the Indian Central Cocoanut Committee. It possesses 70 acres of land and carries on research regarding the types of soil, manures, climate, etc. for the growth and larger production of cocoanut. It also supplies seedlings of good varieties to the cultivators.
Horticultural Development.
There are two nurseries functioning in this district, viz., the Central Nursery at Shirgaon in Ratnagiri taluka and the Nursery at Nandgaon in Deogad taluka. These nurseries prepare grafts of various fruits like mango, cocoanut, chickoo, pine-apple, lemon, sweet lime, etc. by scientific methods and supply them to cultivators at moderate prices. From the Nandgaon Nursery alone, about 3,000 grafts of mango are annually distributed.
Training in Agriculture.
As training in modern methods of agriculture is a prelude to a programme for overall improvement of agriculture, an agricultural school was started in 1949 at Shirgaon, two miles from Ratnagiri city. It provides facilities for training 20 students annually in a two-year course. Besides agriculture, which is the main subject taught at the school, the course includes subjects like village development, co-operation, public health, carpentry and smithy, weaving, beekeeping, animal husbandry, poultry farming and civics. Students are given a stipend of Rs. 20 per month and get free hostel accommodation at the school. In 1956-57, 34 students were undergoing training at the school.
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