AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

LIVE-STOCKS

Live-stock plays a very important part in agriculture and constitutes one of the farmer's coveted possessions. Because of agricultural backwardness of the tract, existence of small holdings and peculiar physical features, there is little scope for the use of mechanical devices for agricultural operations and hence cattle labour has to be largely relied upon. A pair of bullocks for draught, a cow or buffalo for milk, draught and manure; and in addition, a few sheep, goats and poultry are to be commonly found with a large number of farmers. Further, in rural areas a farmer's status is judged by the number of cattle he maintains. In fact no farmer can do farming economically without the aid of live-stock.

Given below are the results of the live-stock census conducted in 1951 and 1956 by the Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Bombay:

TABLE No. 25.

 BOVINE POPULATION IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT-1951 AND 1956.

The total bovine population of the district in 1956 was 8,15,551. Besides, the census enumerated 1,414 sheep, 70,939 goats, 125 horses and ponies, 1,377 pigs, etc. Though all these animals do not necessarily work on farm, they are useful to the farmer in a number of ways and are, therefore, included in agricultural live-stock.

Owing to changes consequent upon the reconstitution of Ratnagiri district in 1949, it is not possible to assess correctly the underlying trends and changes in the composition of live-stock population. In the table above are also set out the figures of the bovine population returned at the 1951 census. The variation in the population recorded in the quinquennium ending 1956 is almost insignificant and when marginal errors are taken into account, one might concede that the cattle population, which constitutes the bulk of live-stock, has remained more or less stationary.

The proportion of bovine population varies from taluka to taluka. Their number is more in the western division and increases as one moves to hilly east. The following table gives talukawise distribution of important live-stock in Ratnagiri district in 1956:-

TABLE No. 26.

DISTRIBUTION OF LIVE-STOCK IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT (TALUKAWISE) 1956.

continued..

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*excluding 1337 Pigs

Plough Cattle.

Bullocks constitute a sizable portion of total bovine population and, therefore, play an important part in agriculture. In the absence of good roads, they are the mainstay of rural transport. He-buffaloes are mainly used for agricultural operations in paddy fields. The total number of plough cattle reported in 1956 was 3,64,852 heads.

Milch Cattle.

Cows and buffaloes are kept mainly for breeding and milk production. Out of the total number of 2,51,097 milch cattle, 1,13,326 i.e. about 45 per cent., were reported to be in milk in 1956. Of the rest, only 550 were working on farms. Cows, however, appear to be more popular in the district and are reared by the farmers mainly for the male progeny for draught.

Breeds of cattle.

Generally speaking, quality cattle do not thrive in Ratnagiri district. There are no well-defined breeds. The country cows are of light type, small in size and have various shades of colours. As there are no local breeds of buffaloes the district imports the pandharpuri type.

Sheep, Goats, Horses etc.

Sheep and goats are reared for wool, hair, skin and mutton. Goats  constitute an important source of milk supply to the poor cultivators. Horses, mules and asses, though classed as agricultural live-stock, are not actually used for agricultural operations. They are mainly used as pack animals, for drawing conveyance and for transport work.

Poultry.

Poultry-keeping has now developed into an important cottage or subsidiary industry in rural areas. In 1956, largest poultry population in the old Bombay State was recorded in Ratnagiri district, which was about 11,66,074 out of which 11,65,196 were fowls (hens, cocks and chickens). Eggs, fowls and ducks are considered to be a valuable non-vegetarian food.

Sources of Supply.

The district is a net importer of Pandharpuri buffaloes and of cattle like Khillar, Dangi and Surti which are brought every year before the rainy season mainly from the districts of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Belgaum.

Products.

Milk occupies a dominant place among live-stock products, Ratnagiri and other towns being the ready markets. When milk cannot be easily transported for liquid consumption, it is converted into milk products like butter, ghee, khowa, etc. The average annual outturn and value [Based on 1956 prices.] of live-stock products is given in the following table:-

TABLE No. 27.

LIVE-STOCK PRODUCTS IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT, 1956.

 Prices.

The following were the prices of live-stock in 1956:-

TABLE No. 28.

PRICES OF LIVE-STOCK IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT, 1956.

(In Rupees).

FODDER SUPPLY.

The main reason for the poor quality of cattle is the inadequate supply of fodder in respect of which the district is neither self-sufficient nor does it import it in sufficient quantities. No special efforts are made to grow nutritious fodder. Dry grass, paddy and millet straw constitute the major cattle feed. Green grass is available only in the rainy season. Costly cattle feed, e.g., groundnut-cake etc., are imported by rich cultivators from the adjoining districts.

Milch cattle (cows and buffaloes) keep good health due to better care taken by the owners. They are stalled for the time they are required for draft and are allowed to graze in the open fields for the remaining part of the year. Poultry is also well-maintained.

There are neither live-stock farms nor panjarpols in the district. Veterinary aid is available from the veterinary dispensaries at Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Malvan, Kankavli, Rajapur, Deorukh, Khed, Mandangad, Deogad and Sawantwadi.

Breeding, Veterinary and Husbandry Facilities.

Poor feeding facilities and heavy rainfall conditions in the district have so far precluded any tangible work being done about cattle improvement. The local non-descript and half-starved animals continue to play their part in district economy but these die in large numbers, when exposed to heavy rains every year.

Cattle Improvement.

It has, however, been felt that the Dangi breed may be introduced because of its reputation to withstand heavy rainfall and poor feeding conditions. The Gopuri Ashram, Kankavli is doing some work in this direction. From 1956-57 a Government cattle breeding centre with two Dangi bulls is working in Mandangad taluka.

Poultry Improvement Scheme of the Government provides for the supply of pure-bred cocks to bonafide cultivators at the concessional rates fixed by the Poultry Development Officer, Poona, for grading of rural poultry. The Government Poultry Farm at Kolhapur meets the demand of the district for birds and eggs. Other benefits that accrue from the scheme are (i) grant of subsidies, loans and (ii) availability of training and technical advice, etc.

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