The Gazetteers Department

Of the total area of nearly 32 lakhs of acres in 1955-56, the cultivated area in the Ratnagiri district covered 30.3 per cent, and cultivable waste, 7,46,323 acres. The area under forest was 46,958 acres in 1956, which compares very unfavourably with the year 1885 when forests accounted for nearly 100 thousand acres. The average annual rainfall is 122", varying from 88" near the sea coast to over 153" in the hilly areas of the interior. Agriculture, in the district, could be regarded as a gamble in rains as can be seen from the fact that out of the total cropped area of nine lakhs of acres, hardly 3.8 per cent, was under irrigation. Most of the irrigation is by wells and private canals. There is only one Government canal in Malvan taluka, irrigating an area of about 627 acres. The peculiar geographical set up of the district makes it imperative to lay more stress upon minor irrigation schemes like bunds, bandharas, nallas etc. Though there are numerous streams and water courses there are a few usable rivers. The whole system is naturally ill suited for major irrigation projects.

Food crops.

The main food crops are rice and ragi among cereals; Kulith (horse-gram) and black-gram among pulses. Mango and cashew-nut constitute the popular and important fruit crops. Food crops cover more than 73 per cent, of the total cropped area. Food production, however, is inadequate and cannot meet the total demand for district. The district has to depend for food supply, for about eight months in a year, on the neighbouring districts of Belgaum, Kolhapur and Kolaba, in addition to the supplies received via Bombay by sea. On an average 55,000 tons of foodgrains are imported annually. The acreage under rice in 1955-56 was 3,14,909 (i.e. 3.5 per cent, of the total cropped area) and under ragi 1,48,816 (i.e. 27 per cent, of the area under cereals). Though the district is chiefly a producer of food crops, non-food crops occupied nearly 27 per cent, of the gross cropped area in 1955-56, of which oil seeds accounted for nearly 30,627 acres. With proper research, resulting in better development, in regard to the production of oil seeds, the prospects for this crop, with an ever increasing demand for oil-seeds and for their products in the world market, are bright. Similarly, the rising demand for mangoes, jack fruit (phanas) and cashew-nuts in the foreign market may lead to increase in their production.

Forests.

Forests do not seem to occupy the same place of importance in the economy of the district at present as they did in the past. From the economic point of view, the cocoa-palm tree, and timber species such as teak, shisav and ain, are by far the most important.

Pressure of population.

Compared with 1882, the pressure of population on land has increased, as is evidenced by the fact that whereas in 1882, the area per head of the population and the area per head of population engaged in agriculture were 1.5360 acres and 2.1760 acres respectively, the corresponding figures for 1950-51 being 46 acres and 66 acres. During this period, the total population increased from 9,97,090 to 17,11,964, whereas the number of persons following agriculture as their main occupation increased from 6,89,837 to 11,89,662.

Distribution of Land.

Statistics of distribution of land (both Khalsa and Inam) are available for 6,18,995 acres for the year 1952-53. The size of an average holding has declined from 10 acres in 1878-79 to 5.1 acres in 1952-53. More than 75 per cent, of the holders held an average area of 1.5 acres. There were only five holders whose average holdings exceeded 1,200 acres. This was mainly due to the phenomenal rise in the percentage of the number of small holders. A holding in Ratnagiri district is divided into several fragments which make it in many cases uneconomic. A survey of holdings in the district in 1947 shows the average size of a fragment to be 0.75 acres, and the number of fragments per holding at 6.92. The Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, is being implemented to consolidate uneconomic fragments and improve the present position.

Prior to 1949, there existed a congeries of inams, watans and non-rayatwari tenures. There were 952 villages under khoti tenure and 273 villages of the former State of Sawantwadi under kauli and katuban tenures. These intermediaries have been abolished in pursuance of the general policy laid down by the Government of India in this regard. Most of the land is now held under rayatwari tenure. The relations between landlords and tenants have also undergone significant changes, the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act of 1948 being a major step in the direction. It was enacted to give security of tenure to tenants and to fix the maximum rate of rent. A valuable right in favour of tenants was conferred in the form of the privilege of purchasing his holding from the landlord under certain conditions. Since 1948 many amendments were made to the Act, the most important being the one made in 1955 with a view to (i) vesting occupancy rights in lands on the tiller of the soil, (ii) redistributing land by the imposition of ceilings on individual holdings and (iii) providing facility to small holders to acquire lands.

Agricultural tools.

The field tools and implements used generally by agriculturists continue to be of the old and indigenous type, though some modern improved implements have been introduced. However, the high cost and the limited use of improved implements make their introduction possible rather at a slow rate. Iron ploughs are slowly replacing the indigenous wooden ones. Pumps worked by electric motors and oil engines are being used in certain parts of the district. Mechanisation of agricultural operations has not proceeded to such extent as to diminish the importance of livestock which continues to be a valuable possession of every farmer. Efforts are being made to improve the breed of cattle and sheep in the experimental farms conducted by some private institutions.

Agricultural wages in rural areas were usually being paid both in cash and in kind till recently. However, a tendency has now developed to pay wages in cash. Female labour is paid at half the rate of wages paid to male labour. Child labour is paid still lower.

There are seasons when rainfall is abundant, but occasionally the region is hit by severe failure of monsoon resulting in famines and causing considerable hardship to the populace. Better facilities of transport will help to minimize the hardships to some extent.

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