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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has been the most important economic activity in Sangli district. Nearly 80 per cent of the working population is engaged in agriculture. This means that eight out of every ten persons are engaged in the cultivation of land.
In the past, apathy towards modern ways of production and meagre financial resources prevented the cultivator from having recourse to the new mode of cultivation, thereby affecting the production adversely. A countrywide programme of planned economic development with the help of different agencies to assist it through direct legislation and liberal grants to the voluntary organizations devoted solely for that purpose and by setting up institutional framework to carry on the message of development to the bottom did show some signs of improvement in all aspects of economy, especially in the field of agriculture.
Sangli district is endowed with ample natural resources with efficient man power to exploit it to the fullest. The land is very fertile situated as it is on the banks of the river Krishna. Moreover, it is well served with irrigation facilities having a net work of canals and wells. The nearness to the Koyna hydro-electric project makes the availability of cheap electric supply possible.
The crop pattern and structure of agrarian economy of the district has remained more or less the same over the years. However, cultivation of cash crops like sugarcane and groundnut has improved considerably the economic conditions of agriculturists. The cultivation of sugarcane has been on the increase. Jowar and Bajra arc the two main crops which constitute 58.83 per cent of the gross cropped area. Pulses and groundnut constitute 11 per cent each of the total cropped area.
Agricultural production has gone up since the adoption of planning. However, more could be achieved by following intensive cultivation accompanied by an efficient use of the improved techniques of production. The total production increased by 7.8 per cent during the first plan period. The average annual food production during the second plan was 40.5 per cent over that of 1950-51. There is little scope for extensive cultivation as 75 per cent of the total geographical area is already under cultivation.
In the presence of recurring droughts combined with irregular rainfall and pests, an assured water-supply through a well-developed system of irrigation is required. Sangli district has
made a remarkable progress so far in this direction. The irrigated area increased from 78,000 acres in 1950-51 to 91,000 acres in 1959-60. The number of oil engines and electric pumps used for irrigation has increased from 1,232 in 1950-51 to 4,496 in 1961. The Third Plan Schemes included construction of 3,000 new wells, installation of 1,500 pumping sets and new minor irrigation works which will irrigate an additional 9,835 acreage of land.
In addition, farmers are provided with improved seeds and modern agricultural implements through a net-work of cooperative institutions which will go a long way in increasing the agricultural production and ameliorating the economic conditions of the farmers as well.
Co-operation along with the community development programme has made headway in the search of all-round economic, social and cultural advancement of the community. Almost all the fields of activity have been covered by these agencies.
The expansion of the co-operative movement in Sangli district is remarkable. There are 511 credit societies, a Central Cooperative Bank with its 735 individual members and 650 societies, one processing society, a co-operative joint farming society, 11 collective farming societies, a co-operative lift irrigation society, and a co-operative sugar factory in Sangli district.
Co-operation has brought about an institutional frame-work consisting oi different co-operative societies and service co-operatives which may bring a new economic life to the people.
Despite legislative measures and indirect encouragement, the scheme of prevention of subdivision and fragmentation and of consolidation of holdings has met with Little success.
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