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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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LAND UTILISATION
The total geographical area of the district in 1956-57 was
26,07,378 acres. The whole of the district lies on the eastern side of the Sahyadri range. It more or less presents a hilly topography, particularly its western part, comprising Jaoli, Mahabaleshwar and Wai talukas and Khandala peta.
Cultivated and Uncultivated Area.
The following table gives a statement of cultivated and uncultivated area in Satara district during the year 1956-57:—
TABLE No. 4.
STATEMENT SHOWING CULTIVATED AND UNCULTIVATED AREAS IN SATARA DISTRICT DURING THE YEAH 1956-57.
(area in acres)
|
Talukas. |
Number of villages. |
Total geographical area. |
Cultivated Area. |
|
Gross cropped area. |
Area cropped more than once. |
Net area sown. |
Current fallows. |
Total cultivated area. |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
Jaoli |
196 |
2,14,959 |
86,460 |
8,988 |
77,472 |
62,658 |
1,40,130 |
Karad |
115 |
2,54,300 |
1,96,089 |
8,815 |
1,87,274 |
4,113 |
1,91,387 |
Khandala |
46 |
1,29,761 |
98,530 |
12,342 |
86,188 |
-- |
86,188 |
Khatav |
90 |
3,37,199 |
2,93,868 |
18,752 |
2,75,116 |
-- |
2,75,116 |
Koregaon |
76 |
2,27,991 |
1,89,125 |
14,317 |
1,74,808 |
826 |
1,75,634 |
Mahabaleshwar |
56 |
56,145 |
10,874 |
455 |
10,419 |
-- |
10,419 |
Man |
71 |
3,72,196 |
2,70,830 |
13,644 |
2,57,186 |
1,758 |
2,58,944 |
Patan |
203 |
3,46,647 |
1,69,330 |
21,000 |
1,48,330 |
93,077 |
2,41,407 |
Phaltan |
80 |
2,90,997 |
2,29,105 |
9,260 |
2,19,845 |
18,320 |
2,38,165 |
Satara |
153 |
2,24,645 |
1,89,033 |
9,889 |
1,79,134 |
-- |
1,79,134 |
Wai |
91 |
1,52,478 |
88,016 |
13,424 |
74,592 |
626 |
75,218 |
|
Total |
1,177 |
26,07,318 |
18,21,260 |
1,30,896 |
16,90,364 |
1,81,378 |
18,71,742 |
TABLE No. 4 (contd).
|
Uncultivated Area. |
Total
uncultivated Area. | |
Forests. |
Barren and unculturable
area. |
Land
put to non-agricultural uses. |
Culturable waste. |
Miscellaneous tree crops, groves, permanent pastures. |
|
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
|
61,550 |
10,948 |
11 |
2,152 |
-- |
74,661 |
|
32,704 |
28,444 |
208 |
749 |
813 |
62,913 |
|
13,752 |
9,057 |
-- |
332 |
17,449 |
40,590 |
|
17,798 |
-- |
37,296 |
6,556 |
-- |
61,650 |
|
27,102 |
24,932 |
116 |
207 |
-- |
52,357 |
|
32,814 |
2,209 |
854 |
104 |
-- |
35,981 |
|
32,400 |
64,001 |
83 |
1,452 |
3,496 |
1,01,432 |
|
73,751 |
24,623 |
1,707 |
4,415 |
313 |
1,04,809 |
|
21,704 |
25,500 |
52 |
751 |
1,172 |
49,179 |
|
21,392 |
21,346 |
184 |
1,399 |
-- |
44,321 |
|
32,042 |
6,266 |
25 |
261 |
38,666 |
77,260 |
|
3,67,009 |
2,17,326 |
40,531 |
18,378 |
61,909 |
7,05,153 |
The percentage of cultivated area to total area in the district a: a whole amounted to 71.8, but it varied from
taluka to taluka, the highest percentage being 81.8 in Phaltan taluka and the lowest being 18.6 in Mahabaleshwar taluka.
Jirayat and Bagayat.
The cultivated area in Satara district falls under two major heads jirayat and bagayat. The jirayat land which formed 90.4 per cent, of the total cultivated area is cropped only once with the help of rain water, while the bagayat land which formed 9.6 per cent, of the total cultivated area is cropped with the help of irrigation This only indicates the greater dependence of agriculture on monsoons.
Forest Area.
The forest area in the district falls under two categories, Reserved
and Protected. The major portion of this area is in charge of the Forest Department and the rest in charge of the Revenue Department. The table below shows the distribution of forest area under the two departments in 1957-58.
TABLE No. 5.
DISTRIBUTION (TALUKA-WISE) OF FOREST AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1957-58.
(area in acres and gunthas)
|
Range. |
Taluka (whole or part) included in the Range. |
Forest in charge of Forest Department. |
Forest in charge of Revenue Department. |
|
Reserved. |
Protected. |
Reserved. |
Protected. |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
|
A. g. |
A. g. |
A. g. |
A. g. |
|
Karad |
Karad, Khatav, Man |
27,897—24 |
906—17 |
55,793—10 |
-- |
|
Dhebewadi |
Patan part |
22,475—23 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Patan |
Patan part |
65,205—39 (Leased).
2,463—9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Mahabaleshwar |
Mahabaleshwar, Jaoli part, Wai Khandala peta. |
68,113—33 (Leased).
12,171—32 |
637—13 |
5,139—38 |
-- |
|
Satara |
Satara, Koregaon, Jaoli part. |
89,348—15 (Leased).
922—21 |
542—34 |
2,508—14 |
-- |
|
Phaltan |
Phaltan |
-- |
11,845—7 |
-- |
-- |
continued..
|
Range. |
Taluka (whole or part) included in the Range. |
Total. |
|
Reserved. |
Protected. |
|
1 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
|
A. g. |
A. g. |
|
Karad |
Karad, Khatav, Man |
83,690—34 |
906—17 |
|
Dhebewadi |
Patan part |
22,475—23 |
-- |
|
Patan |
Patan part |
65,205—39 (Leased).
2,463—9 |
-- |
|
Mahabaleshwar |
Mahabaleshwar, Jaoli part, Wai Khandala peta. |
73,253—31 (Leased).
12,171—32 |
637—13 |
|
Satara |
Satara, Koregaon, Jaoli part. |
91,856—29 (Leased).
922—21 |
542—34 |
|
Phaltan |
Phaltan |
-- |
11,845—7 |
The " wood ash tillage", that is, the occasional cultivation of forest areas after burning the shrubs and grass thereon was a unique feature of the district during the days of the compilation of the last Gazetteer. Tin's is known as kumri cultivation and the practice is still followed in the hilly tracts. However, it does not obtain in forest areas in charge of Forest Department. The principal forest produce of the areas in charge of the Forest Department comprised timber, charcoal and firewood, whereas mention may be made of grass, hirda, shikekai, apta and temburni leaves as chief minor products. The outturn of major forest produce amounted to 2,39,263 cubic feet in 1957-58, which fetched Rs. 91,024. Since almost all the major forest produce was consumed in the Satara Forest Division, nothing could be exported. Besides the chief minor products mentioned above, minor forest produce also comprised bamboos, fibres, flassin, fodder and grass, incense and perfumed wood, dyestuffs, vegetable oil and oil seeds. The value of minor forest produce of the Satara Forest Division, amounted to Rs. 77,582 [The amount relates to minor forest produce of Satara and Sangli districts.
As the sale is done range-wise as a unit, no separate figure relating to minor forest produce of Satara district, could be furnished.] in 1957-58.
Cropped area.
The gross cropped area of the district in 1958-59, has been recorded
as 17,93,506 acres, of which the area cropped more than once amounted to 1,28,827 acres, the net cropped area being 16,64,679 acres. The following two tables reveal the taluka-wise distribution of
kharif and rabi food and non-food crops in 1958-59 and taluka-wise acreage under different crops in 1956-57, respectively.
TABLE No. 6.
DISTRIBUTION OF CROPPED AREA (TALUKA-WISE) IN
SATARA DISTRICT, 1958-59.
(In acres).
|
Taluka. |
Gross Cropped Area. |
|
Kharif. |
Rabi. |
Total. |
|
Food crops. |
Non-food crops. |
Food crops. |
Non-food crops. |
Food crops. |
Non-food crops. |
Jaoli |
3,700 |
32,505 |
21,564 |
949 |
25,264 |
33,454 |
Karad |
43,544 |
76,823 |
80,653 |
1,969 |
1,24,197 |
78,792 |
Khandala |
39,950 |
21,569 |
36,991 |
1,650 |
76,941 |
23,219 |
Khatav |
1,92,050 |
58,366 |
36,824 |
1,649 |
2,28,874 |
60,015 |
Koregaon |
85,649 |
46,635 |
49,588 |
3,598 |
1,35,237 |
50,233 |
Mahabaleshwar |
4,917 |
4,577 |
1,305 |
9 |
6,222 |
4,586 |
Man |
1,56,462 |
81,395 |
30,908 |
1,059 |
1,87,370 |
82,454 |
Patan |
78,739 |
66,942 |
26,662 |
255 |
1,05,401 |
67,197 |
Phaltan |
67,017 |
44,548 |
1,11,095 |
5,526 |
1,78,112 |
50,074 |
Satara |
72,611 |
78,417 |
35,902 |
1,416 |
1,08,513 |
79,833 |
Wai |
41,750 |
7,394 |
36,350 |
2,024 |
78,100 |
9,418 |
|
Total |
7,86,389 |
5,19,171 |
4,67,842 |
20,104 |
12,54,231 |
5,39,275 |
continued..
|
Taluka. |
Grand total. |
Area cropped more than once. |
Net cropped area. |
|
Jaoli |
58,718 |
9,280 |
49,438 |
|
Karad |
2,02,989 |
8,962 |
1,94,027 |
|
Khandala |
1,00,160 |
13,480 |
86,680 |
|
Khatav |
2,88,889 |
15,425 |
2,73,464 |
|
Koregaon |
1,85,470 |
15,101 |
1,70,369 |
|
Mahabaleshwar |
10,808 |
512 |
10,296 |
|
Man |
2,69,824 |
12,198 |
2,56,626 |
|
Patan |
1,72,598 |
20,179 |
1,52,419 |
|
Phaltan |
2,28,186 |
9,525 |
2,18,661 |
|
Satara |
1,88,346 |
9,373 |
1,78,973 |
|
Wai |
87,518 |
13,792 |
73,726 |
|
Total |
17,93,506 |
1,28,827 |
16,64,679 |
TABLE No. 7.
ACREAGE UNDER DIFFERENT CROPS (TALUKA-WISE) IN
SATARA DISTRICT, 1956-57.
(In acres)
|
Crops. |
Jaoli. |
Karad. |
Khandala. |
Khatav. |
Koregaon. |
Mahabaleshwar. |
Cereals |
38,382 |
89,941 |
57,001 |
1,69,730 |
99,687 |
3,453 |
Pulses |
5,133 |
11,311 |
8,158 |
31,109 |
17,230 |
286 |
Sugarcane |
64 |
3,196 |
43 |
483 |
191 |
6 |
Vegetables |
327 |
889 |
441 |
5,187 |
3,600 |
170 |
Fibres |
13 |
610 |
52 |
131 |
18 |
-- |
Oilseeds |
7,219 |
39,786 |
3,432 |
12,862 |
24,963 |
31 |
Condiments and spices. |
135 |
3,010 |
171 |
1,094 |
920 |
1 |
|
Total |
51,273 |
1,48,743 |
69,298 |
2,20,596 |
1,46,609 |
3,947 |
continued..
|
Crops. |
Man. |
Patan. |
Phaltan. |
Satara. |
Wai. |
Total. | |
Cereals |
1,51,833 |
69,637 |
1,20,240 |
79,811 |
55,313 |
9,35,028 | |
Pulses |
26,123 |
10,384 |
10,637 |
10,767 |
8,771 |
1,39,909 | |
Sugarcane |
343 |
524 |
8,543 |
349 |
266 |
14,008 | |
Vegetables |
902 |
178 |
316 |
757 |
2,241 |
15,008 | |
Fibres |
555 |
49 |
389 |
44 |
15 |
1,876 | |
Oilseeds |
2,765 |
26,812 |
7,224 |
28,797 |
9,027 |
1,62,918 | |
Condiments and spices. |
514 |
401 |
445 |
683 |
683 |
8,057 | |
Total |
1,83,035 |
1,07,985 |
1,47,794 |
1,21,208 |
76,316 |
12,76,804 |
It is evident from Table No. 6 that Satara district is mainly a food-grain producing area. The main food-crops of the district are jowar, bajra and rice among cereals, gram and tur among pulses, fruits and vegetables, sugar-cane and condiments and spices. Four talukas, viz., Khatav, Man, Phaltan and Koregaon together accounted for 7,29,593 acres or more than 50 per cent, of the gross area under food crops, Khatav taluka alone claiming the highest area in the district, viz., 2,28,874 acres.
The main non-food crops are groundnut and safflower among oilseeds and fodder. Tobacco, betel-leaves, cotton and other fibres are grown almost on a negligible scale. The following table gives comparative figures of acreage under different crops in 1951-52 and 1956-57 in Satara district:—
TABLE No. 8.
AREA UNDER DIFFERENT CHOPS IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1951-52 & 1956-57.
(Figures in hundred acres).
|
Crops. |
1951-52 |
1956-57 | |
Cereals* — | |
| |
Rice |
517 |
574 | |
Wheat |
226 |
332 | |
Bajra |
3,945 |
4,028 | |
Jowar |
4,589 |
4,975 | |
Ragi |
335 |
352 | |
Vari |
178 |
122 | |
Maize |
50 |
40 | |
Sava |
-- |
34 | |
Barli |
10 |
13 | |
Indian millets |
48 |
-- | |
Kodra |
1 |
16 | |
Little millets |
2 |
5 | |
Italian millets |
-- |
13 | |
Other grains |
11 |
21 | |
Total |
9,912 |
10,525 | |
Pulses* — | | | |
Gram |
378 |
441 | |
Tur |
190 |
205 | |
Watana |
9 |
12 | |
Mug |
88 |
103 | |
Masur |
-- |
1 | |
Black gram |
258 |
269 | |
Horse gram |
178 |
141 | |
Math |
479 |
487 | |
Val |
13 |
14 | |
Chavli |
34 |
30 | |
Other pulses |
106 |
149 | |
Total |
1,733 |
1,852 |
Continued on next page.
(Figures in hundred Acres).
|
Crops. |
1951-52 |
1956-57 |
Oil-seeds† — |
| |
|
Edible — |
| |
|
Groundnut |
1,330 |
1,424 |
|
Sesamum |
1 |
2 |
|
Safflower |
192 |
208 |
|
Others |
2 |
5 |
|
Total |
1,525 |
1,639 |
Non-edible — |
| |
|
Linseed |
3 |
8 |
|
Niger |
33 |
25 |
|
Others |
20 |
-- |
|
Total |
56 |
33 |
|
Grand total |
1,581 |
1,672 |
Drugs and
narcotics† — | |
| |
Tobacco |
18 |
26 |
|
Betel-leaves |
3 |
4 |
|
Total |
21 |
30 |
Condiments and spices*— |
| |
|
Ginger |
1 |
4 |
|
Chillies |
61 |
61 |
|
Turmeric |
44 |
45 |
|
Coriander |
49 |
66 |
|
Garlic |
1 |
4 |
|
Others |
21 |
2 |
|
Total |
177 |
182 |
Fibres† — |
| |
|
Cotton |
6 |
38 |
|
Jute |
-- |
5 |
|
Deccan hemp |
7 |
2 |
|
Sann-hemp (Bombay hemp). |
7 |
7 |
|
Total |
20 |
52 |
Fruits and Vegetables* — |
162 |
223 |
|
Fodder crops† |
3,624 |
3,411 |
|
Sugar-cane* |
125 |
140 |
|
Total |
| |
|
Food crops |
12,109 |
12,922 |
|
Non-food crops |
5,246 |
5,165 |
|
Grand total |
17,355 |
18,087 |
* Included in food
crops.
† Included in
non-food crops.
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