AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

DRUGS AND NARCOTICS

Tobacco and betel leaves are the only two important drugs and narcotics grown in the district. Out of the total area of 93,33.273 hectares (23,063 acres) under drugs and narcotics in 1961. tobacco occupied 84,68,459 hectares (20,926 acres) while betel leaves occupied 8,64.814 hectares (2,137 acres). Major portion of these drugs and narcotics is produced in Miraj, Walwa and Tasgaon talukas.

The following table shows distribution of area under drugs and narcotics in the district from 1956-57 to 1961-62.

TABLE No. 23.

AREA UNDER DRUGS AND NARCOTICS IN SANGLI DISTRICT, 1956-57 TO 1961-62

(Area in hectares)

Figures in brackets show area in acres.

TABLE No. 23—contd.

(Area in hectares)

Figures in brackets show area in acres.

Tobacco.

Tobacco (tambakhu) mixed with chuna (lime) when chewed has an intoxicating effect. To some extent it exerts a mild narcotic effect on the human system. This tropical crop is cultivated during the kharif season. Black cotton soil and alluvial soil found in river valleys are suitable for tobacco. The seedlings are first raised in well prepared seed-beds. The seed is broadcast in the seed-plot in the middle of July after some showers of rains. The seedlings are usually protected by covering the seed-beds with thorny bushes and straw. After about a month and a half the seedlings are transplanted with two to three feet spacings. Three to four waterings are given with an interval of about fifteen days. The flowering shoots are nipped off and only the well grown-up leaves are maintained. When the leaves become yellowish with brown spots the plants are taken ready for harvest. Usually the leaves are cut off from January to March. The leaves are then dried in the sun. Powder of some spices like clove is mixed with water and sprayed over the leaves. These leaves are then kept in bundles and are kept closed in covered pits. After some days the bundles are taken out. The tobacco is then either used for chewing or for making snuff. In rural areas the misari, burnt tobacco powder, is extensively used for cleaning the teeth.

Betel leaves.

Pan or nagvel is chewed along with areca nut, chuna, kath and sometimes tobacco. The leaves are said to have digestive properties and are also good for health due to their calcium contents.

It is a garden crop and requires clayey and alluvial soils and abundant supply of water. The panmala, garden of betel leaves, is usually protected by thorny hedges. It grows under shades of shevri, pangera trees. Inside the panmala, rows of papaya, plantain trees and malilimb are grown.

The best shoots of the older plants are planted. The creeper is tied to the shevri by a sheath of the stock of the plantain. Every year new layers of good earth are added. Leaf-picking is started after about two years. The picking of leaves at short intervals is locally known as khuda. The leaves are picked together with the petiole. The picker with the help of sharpened nail fixed on his right thumb cuts off the leaf from the stem. Though it is a cash crop, the cultivation of betel-vine is very costly and requires constant watch. The leaves are counted in kavali and dag. It is necessary to protect the crop from fierce wind and hail storm.

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