AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

AGRICULTURAL SEASONS

Kharif and rabi are the two principal agricultural seasons in Wardha district as in other parts of the State. On the whole, however, the district has considerably larger area under Kharif crops than the rabi ones. This is because, of its three principal crops, jowar, cotton and wheat, the first two which occupy more than half of the total cultivated area of the district, are Kharif crops. The kharif season commences with the start of the Mrug Nakshatra in the month of June and lasts well upto the end of December depending upon the type of the crop sown as also the quality of the soil and regularity or otherwise of the monsoon. Sowing of most of the kharif crops begins after the first two monsoon showers and is completed by the middle of July. Jowar, cotton, tur, rice, bajra, groundnut and mug are the principal crops taken in the kharif season. Though jowar is also grown as a rabi crop the area under it hardly merits its inclusion under the rabi season.

The rabi season commences by the first week of October. During this season wheat, gram, safflower and linseed are the chief crops grown. Sugarcane is a perennial crop but the area occupied by it is hardly noteworthy. The harvesting of rabi crops begins by the middle of February and is completed by March end. These crops are sown in non-irrigated fields.

TOP