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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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IRRIGATION
Agriculture in Ratnagiri district is dependent on rainfall. Till
about 1950, irrigation facilities in the district were very unsatisfactory. Attempts were made subsequently to increase them by sinking new wells and repairing old ones, as also by repairing tanks in different talukas. This brought about an increase in the percentage of the net area sown under irrigation from 1.7 in 1947-48 to 3.8 in 1955-56. The following tables give the sources of irrigation and the net area irrigated by each of them in 1955-56.
TABLE No. 29.
SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY IN EACH TALUKA OF RATNAGIRI DISTRICT 1955-56.
|
|
Canals. |
No. of wells used
for irrigation purposes only (Private).* |
|
Government. |
Private. |
|
Masonry |
Non-Masonry. |
Total. |
|
Number. |
Mileage |
Number. |
Mileage |
Dapoli |
-- |
-- |
150 |
6 |
1,027 |
71 |
1,098 | |
Mandangad |
-- |
-- |
39 |
15 |
128 |
-- |
128 | |
Khed |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
-- |
2 | |
Chiplun |
-- |
-- |
56 |
29 |
-- |
33 |
33 | |
Guhagar |
-- |
-- |
260 |
55 |
648 |
156 |
804 | |
Sangameshwar |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
40 |
40 | |
Ratnagiri |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,186 |
2,021 |
3,207 | |
Lanje |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
60 |
38 |
98 | |
Rajapur |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
229 |
229 | |
Deogad |
-- |
-- |
101 |
151 |
686 |
1,801 |
2,487 | |
Kankavli |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
59 |
486 |
545 | |
Malvan |
1 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
277 |
818 |
1,095 | |
Vengurla |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
671 |
1,112 |
1,783 | |
Kudal |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
184 |
65 |
249 | |
Sawantwadi |
-- |
-- |
90 |
175 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
District Total |
1 |
5 |
696 |
431 |
4,928 |
6,870 |
11,798 |
continued..
|
|
No. of Wells used for - domestic purposes only. |
No. of wells not in use. |
Reser voir. |
Tanks. |
- No. of oil engines. |
|
With ayacut 100
acres or more. |
With ayacut less
than 100 acres. |
Total. |
Dapoli |
2,019 |
44 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
40 |
Mandangad |
396 |
10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7 |
Khed |
1,185 |
85 |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4 |
Chiplun |
1,896 |
59 |
47 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3 |
Guhagar |
1,761 |
77 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
Sangameshwar |
1,922 |
45 |
42 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
14 |
Ratnagiri |
4,502 |
597 |
-- |
-- |
31 |
31 |
-- |
Lanje |
1,242 |
59 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
Rajapur |
1,103 |
178 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7 |
Deogad |
2,740 |
290 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
Kankavli |
2,454 |
149 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Malvan |
6,008 |
53 |
99 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
-- |
Vengurla |
2,600 |
21 |
-- |
-- |
53 |
53 |
6 |
Kudal |
1,371 |
15 |
-- |
4 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
Sawantwadi |
1,750 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
District Total |
32,949 |
1,682 |
189 |
6 |
97 |
103 |
116 |
*There were no Government wells in Ratnagiri district.
TABLE No. 30.
NET AREA IRRIGATED BY DIFFERENT SOURCES OF IRRIGATION IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT, 1955-56.
(In acres)
|
Taluka. |
Net Area Irrigated by |
Govern ment. Canals. |
Private Canals. |
Tanks. |
Wells. |
Other Sources. |
Total. |
Dapoli |
-- |
1,146 |
-- |
840 |
-- |
1,986 |
Mandangad |
-- |
144 |
-- |
32 |
-- |
176 |
Khed |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15 |
-- |
15 |
Chiplun |
-- |
59 |
-- |
18 |
5 |
82 |
Guhagat |
-- |
271 |
-- |
395 |
951 |
1,617 |
Sangameshwar |
-- |
-- |
-- |
647 |
840 |
1,487 |
Ratnagiri |
-- |
-- |
-- |
975 |
563 |
1,538 |
Lanje |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
370 |
371 |
Rajapur |
-- |
-- |
-- |
431 |
655 |
1,086 |
Deogad |
-- |
951 |
-- |
873 |
360 |
2,184 |
Kankavli |
-- |
-- |
-- |
441 |
-- |
441 |
Malvan |
617 |
-- |
360 |
1,383 |
953 |
3,313 |
Vengurla |
-- |
-- |
180 |
5,064 |
75 |
5,319 |
Kudal |
-- |
-- |
861 |
2,175 |
325 |
3,361 |
Sawantwadi |
-- |
9,115 |
-- |
-- |
427 |
9,542 |
District-Total |
617 |
11.686 |
1,401 |
13,290 |
5,524 |
32,518 |
continued..
Taluka. |
Percentage of net area irrigated to net area sown. |
Area irrigated more than once in the same year. |
Total gross area of crops irrigated. |
Percentage of total gross irrigated area to total area sown. |
|
Dapoli |
2.00 |
-- |
1,986 |
2.00 |
|
Mandangad |
8.00 |
-- |
176 |
8.00 |
|
Khed |
0.02 |
-- |
15 |
0.02 |
|
Chiplun |
0.08 |
-- |
82 |
0.08 |
|
Guhagat |
5.00 |
3 |
1,620 |
5.00 |
|
Sangameshwar |
2.90 |
-- |
1,487 |
2.90 |
|
Ratnagiri |
2.00 |
-- |
1,538 |
2.00 |
|
Lanje |
0.59 |
-- |
371 |
0.59 |
|
Rajapur |
1.20 |
-- |
1,086 |
1.20 |
|
Deogad |
6.30 |
-- |
2,184 |
0.30 |
|
Kankavli |
1.00 |
-- |
441 |
1.00 |
|
Malvan |
6.75 |
-- |
3,313 |
6.75 |
|
Vengurla |
18.00 |
-- |
5,319 |
18.00 |
|
Kudal |
6.20 |
-- |
3,361 |
6.20 |
|
Sawantwadi |
16.31 |
-- |
9,542 |
16.31 |
|
District-Total |
3.79 |
3 |
32,521 |
3.79 |
The tables reveal the following facts. Though irrigated area in Sawantwadi taluka is the largest, the percentage of net area irrigated to net area sown is more (18 per cent.) in Vengurla taluka as against 16.31 per cent, in Sawantwadi taluka, where the entire area is under canal (private) irrigation. There were 90 canals which had a total mileage of 175. In Vengurla, on the other hand, well irrigation predominated and there were 671 masonry and 1,112 non-masonry wells. The largest number of wells was, however, recorded in Ratnagiri viz., 3,207 (1,186 masonry and 2,021 non-masonry) where, however, the irrigated area was low. On the whole, acreage under well-irrigation is the highest and constitutes a major source of irrigation in the rural areas of the district; it will continue to be so since construction of new wells and repairs to old ones offer the quickest means of increasing irrigation facilities. Keeping this in view, financial assistance and tagai loans were made available to needy farmers during the First Plan period. Before 1953-54, financial assistance (to the extent of Rs. 6 per acre) was being given for constructing kacha bandharas. Every year the cultivators constructed about 400 such bandharas.
Though rainfall in the district is abundant, the monsoon lasts only for four months i.e., from June to September, so that rivers and nallas which are almost overflowing during this period are practically dry during the remaining period and it becomes imperative to formulate schemes to conserve this rain water. But the peculiar geographical circumstances of this district hamper the implementation of any such scheme. Owing to the existence of small hills scattered all over, absence of any big river and non-availability of expansive landscape necessary for major irrigation works, no big irrigation projects are feasible. Stress, is therefore, laid on minor irrigation schemes like bunds, bandharas, tanks, nallas, etc. The following are details of completed works (as on 31st March 1958), received from the Public Works Department:
TABLE No. 31.
WORKS COMPLETED UNDER MINOR IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT AS ON 31ST MARCH 1958.
|
Serial No. |
Name of Work. |
Name of Taluka. |
Area in acres. |
Irrigable. |
Irrigated during 1957-58 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
(a) Bandhara (masonry) works at- |
| | |
1 |
Madhura |
Sawantwadi |
200 |
180 |
2 |
Arwali |
Vengurla |
180 |
-- |
3 |
Lavel |
Khed |
60 |
-- |
4 |
Dhamapur |
Malvan |
120 |
-- |
6 |
Gudha1 |
Chiplun |
-- |
-- |
6 |
Adeli2 |
Vengurla |
20 |
-- |
7 |
Karanjagaon2 |
Dapoli |
43 |
-- |
8 |
Tide3 |
Mandangad |
100 |
-- |
9 |
Gave3 |
Dapoli |
N. A. |
-- |
1. Rice crop is taken on all the irrigation works.
2. Works completed under Local Development Works Programme.
3. Works completed under National Extension Service/Community Development Projects.
TABLE NO. 31-contd.
The following tables show the area irrigated under different crops
in 1955-56:-
|
Serial No. |
Name of Work. |
Name of Taluka. |
Area in acres. |
Irrigable. |
Irrigated during 1957-58. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
(b) Tanks at- |
| | |
|
1 |
Pendur |
Malvan |
277 |
277 |
|
2 |
Varad |
Do. |
267 |
267 |
|
3 |
Dhamapur |
Do. |
616 |
616 |
|
4 |
Pat |
Kudal |
219 |
219 |
|
|
(c) Repairs to tanks at- |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Arwali |
Vengurla |
150 |
77 |
|
2 |
Matond |
Do. |
200 |
126 |
|
3 |
Parahwadi |
Do. |
70 |
19 |
|
4 |
Asolipal |
Do. |
125 |
-- |
|
5 |
Umramala |
Kudal |
75 |
15 |
|
6 |
Sarmabal |
Do. |
260 |
248 |
|
7 |
Terse Bambarde |
Do. |
62 |
-- |
|
8 |
Nerur |
Do. |
225 |
150 |
|
9 |
Pawashi |
Do. |
150 |
40 |
|
10 |
Bambavali |
Do. |
70 |
70 |
|
11 |
Bao |
Do. |
150 |
125 |
|
12 |
Tulas |
Vengurla |
165 |
-- |
|
13 |
Talgaon |
Malvan |
55 |
-- |
|
14 |
Zarap |
Kudal |
40 |
-- |
|
15 |
Walwal |
Do. |
60 |
-- |
|
|
(d) Improvements to tanks at- |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Sonwade |
Kudal |
75 |
11 |
|
2 |
Chendwan |
Do. |
105 |
37 |
|
3 |
Tulsali |
Do. |
35 |
35 |
|
4 |
Talgaon |
Malvan |
170 |
8 |
TABLE No. 32.
AREA OF FOOD CROPS IRRIGATED IN EACH TALUKA OF RATNAGIRI DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
Taluka. |
Rice. |
Ragi. |
Gram. |
Green Gram or Mug. |
Tur (Arhar). |
Black-Gram or Udid (Mash). |
Horse-Gram. |
Sugar cane. |
Miscella neous. |
Total Food Crops. |
Dapoli |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
29 |
-- |
29 |
Mandangad |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
1 |
Khed |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Chiplun |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Guhagar |
-- |
-- |
12 |
6 |
11 |
160 |
262 |
31 |
196 |
678 |
Sangameshwar |
73 |
1,217 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16 |
-- |
1,306 |
Ratnagiri |
466 |
-- |
-- |
11 |
9 |
10 |
205 |
13 |
-- |
714 |
Lanje |
290 |
16 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
14 |
321 |
Rajapur |
488 |
244 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
17 |
-- |
749 |
Deogad |
630 |
346 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
59 |
141 |
1,176 |
Kankavli |
65 |
75 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
199 |
16 |
-- |
355 |
Malvan |
1,469 |
104 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
470 |
145 |
522 |
2,710 |
Vengurla |
706 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
19 |
21 |
746 |
Kudal |
1,322 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
28 |
16 |
1,366 |
Sawantwadi |
5,418 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
36 |
27 |
5,481 |
District Total |
10,927 |
2,002 |
12 |
17 |
20 |
170 |
1,136 |
411 |
937 |
15,632 |
TABLE No. 33.
AREA OF NON-FOOD CROPS IRRIGATED IN EACH TALUKA OF RATNAGIRI,
DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Cocoanut. |
Chillies. |
Ginger. |
Turmeric. |
Miscellan eous. |
Total. |
Dapoli |
552 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,405 |
1,957 |
Mandangad |
21 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
154 |
175 |
Khed |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
11 |
15 |
Chiplun |
35 |
47 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
82 |
Guhagar |
324 |
15 |
-- |
-- |
440 |
779 |
Sangameshwar |
16 |
41 |
6 |
-- |
118 |
181 |
Ratnagiri |
661 |
163 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
824 |
Lanje |
9 |
34 |
5 |
2 |
-- |
50 |
Rajapur |
201 |
37 |
-- |
-- |
99 |
337 |
Deogad |
-- |
162 |
-- |
-- |
846 |
1,008 |
Kankavli |
11 |
45 |
-- |
-- |
30 |
86 |
Malvan |
-- |
416 |
-- |
-- |
187 |
603 |
Vengurla |
4,570 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4,570 |
Kudal |
1,593 |
402 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,995 |
Sawantwadi |
3,553 |
477 |
-- |
-- |
31 |
4,061 |
District Total |
11,550 |
1,839 |
11 |
2 |
3,321 |
16,723 |
More than two-thirds of this irrigated area was in Deogad, Malvan, Vengurla, Kudal and Sawantwadi talukas, Sawantwadi alone accounting for nearly 40 per cent of it. Of the irrigated area under food crops, paddy occupied nearly two-thirds of the area irrigated. The paddy grown under irrigation is known as vaingan paddy, as the cultural and manurial treatments given to it are different from those given to paddy cultivated with rain water during monsoon. Though the area under vaingan paddy is small (about 3.4 per cent.) in relation to the total area under the crop viz., 3,14,909 acres, it is of some significance because it is grown in this State only in two districts viz. Ratnagiri and Kolaba and has attracted attention as a promising hot weather crop in places where irrigation facilities are available. Here again Sawantwadi taluka is in the forefront. Cocoanut gardening is carried on entirely with the help of irrigated water except in Ratnagiri, Deogad and Malvan talukas. Chillies are grown by means of artificial water supply almost all over the district. Sugarcane, though it occupies a negligible area, was also entirely irrigated.
SEED SUPPLY.
Grain seeds are preserved by cultivators themselves from their own stock. Exchange of seeds between them is also common. Vegetable seeds are imported mostly from Poona, Kolhapur and Bombay by local dealers or co-operative bodies like Taluka Development Boards. Though the acreage under paddy in this district is large, it is estimated that only 50 per cent of it is suited to the introduction of improved seed. Again, owing to difficulties of transport in certain parts, it is not always easy to ensure a regular supply of seeds.
Use of improved seeds can increase the average yield per acre by as much as 10 per cent. Government depots are located in all talukas whence only improved varieties of seeds as evolved by Government and found suitable for the district are usually sold at cost price. In 1947, the then Government of Bombay introduced a scheme for multiplication and distribution of improved seed, particularly of paddy and nagli. Under this scheme, improved varieties of paddy and nagli are grown at various research farms and then multiplied on the farms of selected cultivators. The improved seed thus multiplied is then distributed through recognized dealers, co-operative societies, etc.
Government is also trying to introduce a Seed Certification Scheme with the help of co-operative societies and cultivators. It contemplates giving nucleus seeds of improved strain from the Government Farm to a cultivator who should grow the crop with utmost care to avoid mixtures. The produce will be inspected and certified by the Department for distribution. The neighbouring cultivators can then purchase improved seeds from such certified seed growers. The scheme however has not yet taken shape in the district. Following is the statement pertaining to the introduction of improved varieties of paddy and nagli seed in the district.
TABLE No. 34.
INTRODUCTION OF IMPROVED VARIETIES OF SEED IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT.
|
Name. |
1956-57. |
1957-58. |
|
Quantity distributed. (in B. maunds.) |
Area served (in acres). |
Quantity distributed (in B. maunds). |
Area served (in acres). |
Paddy Varieties - |
| |
| |
|
Patani-6 |
137.00 |
548 |
9.00 |
36 |
|
Warangal-487 |
19.00 |
76 |
48.20 |
196 |
|
Wakasal-287 |
63.00 |
252 |
88.00 |
352 |
|
Panvel-61 |
65.00 |
260 |
134.30 |
540 |
|
Bhadas-79 |
1.00 |
4 |
10.00 |
40 |
|
E. K. 70 |
-- |
-- |
12.00 |
50 |
|
Kolamba-184 |
-- |
-- |
4.4 |
17 |
|
K-42 |
-- |
-- |
10.00 |
40 |
Nagli Variety- |
| |
|
|
|
Nagli |
8.20 |
68.00 |
5.12 |
42 |
There are three Departmental Farms in the district; one each at Shirgaon and Phonda for paddy and one at Hatkhamba for nagli. These farms pass on the nucleus seeds so produced to the extension staff for further multiplication. On an average, Shirgaon and Hatkhamba Farms annually give 100 to 150 maunds of paddy seed and 20 to 30 maunds of nagli seed respectively. Suitable strains from Phonda Farm are yet to be evolved.
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