AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

CO-OPERATIVE FARMING

Factors like increasing pressure of population on land, inequitable distribution of land, uneconomic size of holding, acute fragmentation and sub-division of land, low productivity of the soil, primitive methods of cultivation, illiteracy of the farmers, meagre resources of the cultivators, etc., prove to be stumbling blocks in the implementation of plans for a progressive agricultural economy. In this context co-operative farming is likely to play a significant role, because it aims at ensuring economic cultivation of plots of land and at stepping up, agricultural production. It is thereby expected to overcome most of the handicaps which have been hampering the progress of agriculture. Co-operative farming implies pooling of small plots of land and their joint management. Through the adoption of co-operative farming, the agriculturist can readily increase the size of the unit of cultivation and derive all advantages accruing from the large-scale farming. For instance, the farmer would be able to strengthen his source of credit, purchase and use modern machinery and costly farm equipment, effect efficient division of labour, provide irrigation, undertake measures for the permanent development of land, and finally, to sell his produce advantageously, which it would be beyond the capacity of an individual farmer to achieve. The cultivator derives these various benefits by becoming a member of the co-operative farming society which gives financial and other assistance and caters to the needs of its members with a view to ensuring their well being and the overall progress of the co-operative society itself. There are three kinds of co-operative farming societies which are separately described in the following paragraphs: -

Better Farming Societies.

(i) Better Farming Societies.-The main object of these societies is to hold demonstrations and to popularise improved methods of cultivation. The members undertake to adopt improved methods of farming failing which they are liable to pay a fine prescribed by the society at its general body meeting. Better farming societies for special purposes such as fodder storage, cattle breeding and consolidation of holdings are also formed where the pro motion of these activities is urgent or where the conditions are suitable. Use of improved seeds, manures and implements is the most common activity undertaken by these societies. A number of ancillary objects like collective purchase of occupational requisites, disposal of farm produce at remunerative prices, etc., also find place in their bye-laws. However, it is found that the activities pursued by these societies could be better performed by multi-purpose societies which are becoming wide-spread and favourite in the rural areas. It has been the policy of the Department of Agriculture to encourage the formation and growth of multi-purpose societies and to merge Better Farming Societies into multi-purpose ones except when they agree to undertake a specific scheme such as development of land, improvement in the methods of cultivation, etc.

Co-operative Joint Farming Societies.

(ii) Co-operative Joint Farming Societies.-This type of society envisages pooling of land belonging to small owners whose individual holdings disallow economic and efficient cultivation of land. Members work on the pooled land in accordance with the directions of an Elected Committee. They work jointly on the farm and receive wages for their labour. The ownership of each member in his holding is recognised by payment of dividend or rent in proportion to the value of the land.

The produce is stockpiled as well as disposed of collectively. The proceeds are applied for (a) meeting all expenses of cultivation including payment for the use of land, wages and cost of management; (b) defraying other charges such as interest on borrowings, depreciation of wasting assets, previous losses, and (c) making provision for reserves and other funds, if any. The residue is then shared by members in proportion to the wages earned by each after utilising a part thereof towards the payment of bonus to the salaried staff. The usual functions of this type of society are: planning of crop programme, joint purchase of farm requisites, collective sale of farm produce at fair prices, raising of funds for the improvement of land on the security of lands, crops and other moveable as well as immoveable assets of the society, purchase of machinery, payment of operational expenses and several other activities calculated to promote development of agriculture in particular and well-being of rural community in general.

Co-operative Collective Farming Societies.

(iii) Co-operative Collective Farming Societies.-These are formed only when it is possible to acquire large areas of land on lease either from landlords or from the Government. In this form of society, the society owns lands on leasehold Or freehold, the land is cultivated jointly by all members, the produce is raised collectively and sold collectively and, finally, the proceeds are distributed among members in proportion to their wages which may include remuneration for personal labour rendered with or without their farm equipment. It will be seen that there is a greater degree of resemblance between these and the Co-operative Farming Societies. However, there is one fundamental difference, viz., the members of the Co-operative Collective Farming Society belong to the class of landless labourers who do not enjoy any ownership or proprietary rights in land. As against this, members of the Co-operative Joint Farming Society, individually own a plot of land and continue to enjoy ownership or proprietary interest even after the formation of the society and pooling together of plots of land takes place. The most important benefit derived by the members of Co-operative Collective Farming Societies, is that they are assured of employment and means of subsistence.

Besides these three types of societies, there are Co-operative Lift Irrigation Societies in the district, whose account is given separately in section on " Irrigation ". The position of Collective Farming, Joint Farming and Better Farming Societies in the district till 31st March 1959, is summarised in the following table.

TABLE No. 11.

DETAILS OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN SATARA DISTRICT AS ON 31ST MARCH 1959.

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TABLE No. 11-contd.

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There were six Collective Farming Societies of which four were located in Man taluka and one each in Mahabaleshwar and Phaltan talukas. In 1959, they had a total of 1,020 members. Working hands numbered 510 including 456 males and 54 Females. Of them landless labourers numbered 96, and land-owners, 414. Financial assistance sanctioned and disbursed by Government till 31st March 1959, amounted to Rs. 86,592, consisting of loans worth Rs. 63,750; subsidies worth Rs. 12,842 and contribution to share capital worth Rs. 10,000. Their financial structure was composed of share capital Rs. 27,300; working capital Rs. 2,13,005 and reserves Rs. 13,913, thus aggregating to Rs. 2,54,218. They had land measuring 5,360 acres in their possession of which 2,094 acres were brought under cultivation. All this land was acquired on lease from the Government. Of the six societies, two in Man taluka and one in Koregaon taluka earned profits of Rs. 2,022, Rs. 710 and Rs. 138, respectively and fell under Class B in the audit classification. The two societies, one in Mahabaleshwar taluka and the other in Phaltan taluka incurred losses worth Rs. 366 and Rs. 21,902, respectively. The former belonged to the Class B, and the latter to the Class C in the audit classification. One society in Man taluka neither earned any profit nor suffered any loss till 30th May 1958 and belonged to the Class B.

There was only one Joint Farming Society in Koregaon taluka having a total membership of 42 persons. Of them, working males numbered 21 including 2 landless labourers and 19 land-owners. The financial assistance sanctioned and disbursed by the Government till 31st March 1959, amounted to Rs. 6,500 consisting of loans worth Rs. 5,500 and subsidies Rs. 1,000. Its finances were composed of share capital Rs. 6,300, working capital Rs. 25,200 and reserves Rs. 26, thus aggregating to Rs. 31,526. It had 80 acres of Government land and 266 acres of private land in its possession, most of which was brought under cultivation. It neither earned any profit nor suffered any loss till 30th May 1958 and was given Class D in the audit classification.

Of the four Better Farming Societies, one each was located in Wai, Karad, Satara and Koregaon talukas. They had a total membership of 266 working hands. Finances sanctioned and disbursed by the Government till 31st March 1959, amounted to Rs. 35,000, in the form of loans. They were composed of share capital, Rs. 13,815; working capital, Rs. 55,290; and reserves Rs. 767, thus aggregating to Rs. 69,872. Of the four societies, two neither earned any profit nor suffered any loss; while the other two incurred a loss of Rs. 291 and Rs. 3 respectively, till 30th May 1958. Only one of them belonged to the Class B, whereas the remaining others to the Class D in the audit classification.

To sum up, only the Collective Farming Societies made somewhat satisfactory progress, whereas the Better Farming and the Joint Farming societies were all unable to do so on account of a number of handicaps like small membership, inadequate resources, lack of experienced and efficient personnel, etc., among others.

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