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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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AGRICULTURAL POPULATION
AS ELSEWHERE IN THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT, AGRICULTURE CONTINUES
TO BE THE MAINSTAY OF THE DISTRICT ECONOMY. It is the primary source of
livelihood of its people and in 1961 as many as 244,804 persons of the
total population of 6,34,277 of the district were engaged in agriculture
either as cultivators or agricultural labourers. That agriculture is the
mainstay of the district economy is pointed out by the fact that in 1961 as
many as 77.31 per cent [ District Census Handbook, Wardha, 1961, p. 27.] of the working population in the district was
engaged in agricultural activity. Many others also work in industries
relating to processing of agricultural produce or trade, transport and
services ancillary to agriculture.
Table No. 1 prepared on the basis of 1961 Census figures gives the number of cultivators and agricultural labourers for the district as well as for the tahsils.
TABLE No. 1.
TAHSIL-WISE NUMBER OF CULTIVATORS AND AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS, IN WARDHA DISTRICT IN 1961.
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District/Tahsil |
As cultivators |
As Agricultural Labourers |
Persons |
Males |
Females |
Persons |
Males |
Females |
District Total |
107,447 |
64,699 |
42,448 |
137,659 |
60,286 |
77,373 |
Arvi |
37,149 |
22,310 |
14,839 |
45,983 |
21,122 |
24,861 |
Wardha |
36,736 |
23,053 |
13,683 |
56,245 |
24,536 |
31,709 |
Hinganghat |
33,262 |
19,336 |
13,926 |
35,429 |
14,628 |
20,801 |
Kunbis form by far the largest section of husbandmen in the district. They are a hardy and skilled cultivating caste. The principal sub-castes of the Kunbis in the district are Tirole, Wandhekar, Khaire and Dhanoje. Other castes engaged in agriculture are Telis, Malts, Marathas etc. The Telis are also very good cultivators and work hard on their farms. Malis mostly do intensive type of cultivation. However, it is important to note
that with the changing times agriculture has not remained the exclusive profession of these castes as Brahmans, Chambhars, Mahars and even Banias have taken to agriculture.
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