AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

VEGETABLES

The following table shows taluka-wise acreage under tubers and vegetables, in Satara district, in 1957-58: —

TABLE No. 27.

AREA UNDER VEGETABLES (TALUKAWISE) IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1957-58.

(In acres)

Besides, the district also grows various tubers and leafy and fruit vegetables. The total area under these, in the district, was 15,00s acres, in 1956-57, Khatav (5,160 acres), Koregaon (3,585 acres) and Wai (2,196 acres) being prominent root vegetable sowing talukas.

Potato (batata) is grown mostly in the kharif season. Potato is cut into small pieces each having two or three eye-buds. Planting is done in the third week of June after one or two good showers. Planting is done in furrows opened by a small wooden plough at a distance of 18 inches and the sets are planted at a distance of nine inches in furrows. When the second furrow is opened, the first one is automatically covered and the planting is continued until seven or eight furrows are planted. The seed rate per acre is 1,000-1,200 lbs. per acre. Irrigation is done twice or thrice, if necessary, in a kharif crop and, eight or ten times, in a rabi crop.

Kharif crop matures in about 90 days. Five to ten cart-loads of farmyard manure or compost are applied per acre. After one month from plantation, two Bengali maunds of potato mixture are generally given as top-dressing. The improved variety Numbri is grown in the district. It yields 100-225 Bengali maunds per acre. The expenditure averages Rs. 400-500, and income Rs. 800-1,000 there by leaving a net margin of Rs. 400-500 per acre.

Carrot.

Carrot (Gajar) is grown on medium black soil. Heavy rains damage the crop. It can be taken as a kharif or as a rabi crop. However, in this district, it is mostly taken as a rabi crop. The land is either ploughed or harrowed and, if possible, manured with 10-15 cart-loads of farmyard manure per acre. Seeds are spread in flat seed beds. 15 lbs. of seed are sown per acre and three or four waterings are given to the crop. The crop is ready for use within three months from sowing. The yield per acre averages 50 Bengali maunds. The root is eaten both raw and boiled, as a vegetable and leaves are fed to cattle.

Onion.

Onion (kanda) is mostly taken as a rabi crop. There are two varieties grown in the district, one Red and the other white The white variety is milder than the red one. The crop is taken in medium black soils. The seed rate per acre is 8-10 lbs Seeds are sown on raised seed beds in October-November. The seedlings get ready for transplantation in four or five week and are transplanted at a distance of four or five inches in furrows six inches apart. Five or six cart-loads of farmyard manure or compost are applied per acre. The crop has to be watered every ten or twelve day's. The pest thrips is controlled by dusting lime sulphur. The yield per acre averages 1,000 Bengali maunds. The expenditure averages Rs. 200-300, and the income Rs. 550-75 thereby leaving a net income of Rs. 350-450 per acre.

Sweet Potato.

Sweet potato (ratali) is grown in all seasons in two varieties, red and white. The crop can be taken in a variety of soils and is hence an important garden crop. The land is cleaned by repeated ploughings and harrowings.

Then it is made into ridges and furrows. Five or six cart-loads of farmyard manure are given per acre. The crop requires eight or ten waterings. Cuttings or sets with three nodes are planted on both the sides of the ridges, two and a half feet apart. One thousand pounds of sets are required for planting an acre of land. The yield per acre averages 80-120 Bengali maunds.

Ridge Gourd.

Ridge Gourd (dodka) is taken in all seasons. The land is ploughed or harrowed and basins with a diameter of two and a half feet are prepared ten feet apart. Two or three seeds art: dibbled five feet apart. Pandal (mandav) usually made of wood and twigs is raised to support the creepers. Each ring is supplied with one basketful of farmyard manure mixed with ash. Irrigations are given by ring method. The yield per acre averages 30-40 Bengali maunds.

Bottle Gourd.

Bottle Gourd (dudhya bhopla) is grown in all seasons. Land is ploughed or harrowed. Small basins having a diameter of two and a half feet are kept about ten feet apart. 6-8 seeds are dibbled in each basin. Irrigation is given by ring method. The creepers arc cither allowed to trail on the ground or more usually on specially prepared mandaps. One basketful of farmyard manure mixed with ash is given to each plant. The crop is ready in about two and a half months and harvested two and a half months hence. The yield per acre averages 25-30 Bengali maunds.

Smooth Gourd.

Smooth Gourd (ghosale) is grown as a kharif crop. Two or three seeds are dibbled in the basins five feet apart. It is allowed to trail over roofs or on specially prepared mandaps. A basketful of well rotted farmyard manure mixed with ash is given to each basin. Irrigation is given by ring method. The yield per acre averages 25-30 Bengali maunds.

Bitter Gourd.

Bitter Gourd (karle) is mainly grown as a kharif crop. It requires medium soil which is ploughed and harrowed to prepare basins, having a diameter of two and a half feet. Basins are ten feet apart. 3-4 lbs. of seed are sown per acre.

Cucumber.

Cucumber (kakdi) is grown in the district throughout the year. in sandy loam soils on the river banks. 3-4 lbs. of seed are sown per acre of land. The white and the green varieties are grown in the district. The creeper bears after two months since planting. 3-4 cart-loads of farmyard manure are applied per acre. The yield per acre averages 30-40 Bengali maunds. The fruit is commonly used in preparing salad.

Snake Gourd.

Snake Gourd (padval) is a rain-fed crop. The land is ploughed and harrowed and basins with a diameter of two and a half feet are prepared at every ten feet. Five or six seeds are dibbled in each basin at the beginning of the monsoon. The creeper bears in two months after plantation. One basketful of farmyard manure mixed with ash is given to each basin. The plant is allowed to trail on the specially prepared mandaps. The yield averages 40-50 Bengali maunds per acre.

Red Pumpkin.

Red Pumpkin (tambda bhopla) is grown as a kharif crop. The creeper is raised on roofs and walls. The land is ploughed and harrowed and basins with a diameter of two and a half feet are prepared. Two or three seeds arc dibbled five or six feet apart. One or two basketfuls of farmyard manure mixed with ash are given to the plant. Pumpkin weighs 10-40 seers.

Brinjal.

Brinjal (vangi) is an irrigated as well as rain-led crop. It is grown on rich soils, often on river banks and in gardens. In gardens it is grown in all seasons. The land is ploughed to a depth of 4-6 inches and well-rotted farmyard manure is applied at 8-10 cart-loads per acre. The seed rate per acre is one pound. In dry lands it is sown in June in seed beds and transplanted during July. It begins to bear fruit in September, and if occasionally irrigated, bearing continues for four months. The yield per acre averages 75-100 Bengali maunds.

Tomato.

Tomato (vel vangi) is grown in the district as a kharif as well as a rain crop. The land is poughed to a depth of 4-6 inches and harrowed. Well-rotted farmyard manure is applied at ten cart-loads per acre. Seeds are first sown at about one lb. per acre in nursery beds and seedlings transplanted in three or four weeks, at a distance of two and a half feet. Six to eight waterings are given during the rabi season. Seedlings are transplanted in June, October and February. However, June crop gives highest yield. The yield per acre averages 40-50 Bengali maunds.

Pod Vegetables. Lady's Finger.

Lady's Finger (bhendi) is grown throughout the year, though it thrives well as a kharif crop. Five or six waterings are given during summer at an interval of 6-8 days. 10-12 lbs. of seed are sown per acre. Seeds are dibbled on both the sides of the ridges, at a distance of twelve inches in the row. Sowing is done either in July or in February. Only tender fruits are harvested 6-8 weeks after sowing. The yield averages 30-40 lbs.

Gavari.

Gavari is grown in all seasons. The seed rate per acre is 25-30 lbs. The seeds are dibbled on both the sides of the ridges. The land is ploughed and harrowed and five or six cart-loads of farmyard manure are applied per acre.

It begins to bear pods in three months. Four or five waterings are sufficient. The plant grows about three feet high with a single fibrous stem from which the pods grow in bunches. The yield per acre averages 10-20 Bengali maunds.

Ghevada.

Ghevada is taken as a kharif crop. The seeds are dibbled in pits, 18" X 12", the seed rate being 10-20 lbs per acre. The seeds are sown in June-July. The creeper bears after three months since sowing. Five or six cart-loads of farmyard manure are applied per acre of land. The yield per acre averages 20-25 Bengali maunds.

French Beans.

French Beans (shravan ghevada) is generally sown as a kharif crop, in medium black soil, by four-coultered drill at a distance of eight or ten inches. Seed rate per acre- is 30 lbs. for dibbling and 40 lbs. for drilling. The crop is neither manured nor irrigated. Flowering starts after 40-45 days and pods begin to appear one week hence. The yield of green pods averages 350-400 lbs. The crop is harvested in September and the land is used for rabi crops like jowar and wheat.

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