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With the formation of the Zilla Parishad the Agriculture department was split up into State and District sectors. While State sector includes schemes like town compost, sugarcane development, cotton extension, taluka seed farms, experimental and research farms, soil conservation, and gram sevak training centre, the District sector includes those such as kharif and rabi campaigns, paddy pilot schemes, horticultural development, construction of tahsil godowns, air compressor, blasting and tractor ploughing, rural compost, fertiliser distribution, plant protection and appliances on 50 per cent subsidy, green manuring, intensive cultivation of food crops and pulses, distribution of cement, iron and steel.

The department in the State sector is headed by the Director of Agriculture, Maharashtra State, Poona. The activities falling in the State sector at district level are controlled and supervised by the Assistant Cotton Extension Officer who is subordinate to the Superintending Agricultural Officer, Poona. He is designated as officer in charge of residuary activities.

The Agricultural Development Officer is placed in charge of the schemes falling within the sphere of the district sector. He is immediately responsihle to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad. The District Agricultural Officer works as the Secretary to the Agriculture Committee of the Zilla Parishad. He is assisted in his work by Agricultural Supervisors, Agricultural Assistants and other necessary staff.

Schemes under Zilla Parishad.

Following is a brief account of schemes falling under the Zilla Parishad.

Demonstration and Propaganda.-To impart knowledge in modern agricultural practices by way of demonstrations, as many as 47 demonstration centres have been set up in the district. Of these Miraj taluka has 18, Khanapur 14, Tasgaon 3, Jath 4, and Walva 8. With the help of Gram Sevaks and agricultural assistants general propaganda work is carried on by the District Agricultural Officer. Agricultural programmes are implemented through the Agricultural Extension Officers under the guidance of Block Development Officers. Propaganda is also carried on by holding fairs and exhibitions and by starting kharif and rabi campaigns in order to induce the agriculturists to adopt modern and scientific agricultural practices and devices on an increased scale.

Farmers unions.-There are 843 Farmers' Unions with a membership of 12.747. They have been established with a view to disseminating agricultural research carried out at the Government Research Centres. The services of these unions are often utilised to distribute fertilizers and pesticides.

Horticultural Development.-To improve the plantation methods and to increase the fruit yield, arrangement is made to give prompt technical advice to the agriculturists. They are also granted loans up to Rs. 300 per acre for the same.

Tractor ploughing and Blasting.-In the area selected by the Agricultural Committee of the Zilla Parishad tractor ploughing is adopted with the aid of labour and machinery made available by the State. To increase water-supply for agricultural purposes boring and blasting units are also provided depending upon the rajuircments. Receipts on this account are credited to the State Government.

Fertiliser Supply.-By means of effective propaganda the agriculturists have been made to realise the importance of compost. To encourage them to prepare compost, awards have been instituted and are given away to the village or the town producing the maximum amount of compost. Besides giving the agriculturists practical training in preparing compost, the district sector also supplies chemical fertilisers.

Pest control and crop protection.-To protect the crops from various pests and diseases pesticides and instruments to spray them are provided at subsidised rates. In 1959-60 pesticides worth Rs. 95,556 were sprayed with the help of planes over an area of 15,603 acres. In 1960-61 planes were also pressed into service.

Crop competitions and exhibitions.-As an incentive to grow more, cash prizes are awarded to those producing more per acre. Periodically, exhihitions of modern agricultural implements, seeds and seedlings arc held at important fairs. At Sangli one such exhihition is held annually. To promote horticultural activities yet another exhihition is held annually in the town.

Schemes under the State sector.

State sector has undertaken the following schemes in the district.

Research Centre.-Realising the increasing importance or agricultural research, an agricultural research centre has heen set up at Digraj. It was set up in 1958 and since then has been conducting valuable research. Seed and seedling growing centres have also been started in each taluka. The nursery set up in Ambrai garden at Sangli is the most important and grows a variety of seeds and seedlings.

Soil conservation.-Soil conservation activities in the district are in charge of the Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Sangli. However, for actual work the district is divided into Miraj and Jath divisions. Till 1959-60 work in respect of nearly 57 villages was completed under this scheme.

Under the Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Land Holdings Act, 1947, land consolidation work has been taken up in the district. It is supervised by a consolidation officer assisted by assistant consolidation officers.

Agricultural School, Digraj.-For the provision of agricultural education and training in improved agricultural practices an agricultural school was set up at Digraj 8 km. from Sangli in 1958. It started functioning in August 1959. The course is of two years duration. It admits 50 students annually. The selected candidates other than those belonging to backward classes! get a monthly stipend of Rs. 20 and those belonging to the backward classes Rs. 25.

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