ECONOMIC TRENDS

AGRARIAN ECONOMY

The economy of the district is mainly based on agriculture. As per the 1961 Census there are 107,147 workers classified as cultivators, and 137,657 persons as agricultural labourers. Thus, the total agricultural population is enumerated at 2,44,504 which constituted about 77.3 per cent, of the total working population of the district. The 1951 Census had enumerated 62 per cent of the district population as dependent on agriculture. [The basis of classification of occupational groups in 1951 and 1961 Censuses was different]

Agriculture is, thus, the principal source of livelihood of the people. In the nature of things, the development activities have to start from the improvement in agricultural structure to revitalise the society at the base and to ensure a higher level of agricultural production to achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrains. It may be stated here that this sphere of economic activity was neglected through ages, the result being low productivity and unprofitability of cultivation.

The agrarian structure of the district economy can be judged from the pattern of land utilisation. About 73 per cent of the total geographical area is available for cultivation while the rest is classified under forests, barren lands, pastures, trees, area put to non-agricultural uses, etc. Of the area under cultivation about 66 per cent is actually under cultivation, and about 7 per cent is under fallow and culturable waste. Hence the only scope of increasing the area under cultivation is to reduce the percentage of area under fallow. But the scope of extensive cultivation on this count is not wide. The development plans for agriculture have to adopt methods of intensive cultivation to bring about an increase in production. The path of agricultural progress lies through adoption of hybrid seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, plant protection measures, and irrigation, the most important of all.

There has been remarkable progress in the various aspects of intensive cultivation in the district. The agriculturists have realised the importance and feasibility of intensive cultivation. They have become conscious of the profitability and efficacy of improved methods of farming. There is greater awareness than before that ploughing with the iron plough, sowing with the coultered drill and interculturing in a scientific manner lead to higher productivity of agriculture. Cultivation with mechanised implements has found its beginning in the district. The use of green manures as well as chemical fertilisers is becoming more and more popular. Plant protection measures and the use of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides which were hardly known to the agriculturists in the past have come to occupy an important place in the cultural practices in the district.

The agrarian revolution initiated by the Maharashtra Government has generated a new spirit of enthusiasm among the agriculturists. The call of the Government to use hybrid seeds is met with a good measure of success in the cultivation of jowar, groundnut and bajri. The improved varieties of cotton and wheat evolved in the government research farms have become very common. The hybrid seed movement has been successful in multiplying production and income of the cultivators.

The crop pattern in the district ensures a reasonable balance between the principal food and non-food crops, viz., jowar and cotton, respectively. The jowar crop covers an area of about 28 per cent of the gross cropped area, while cotton accounts for about 40 per cent of the gross area.

The level of production and area under various crops during the First and the Second Five Year Plans, and the projected figures for the Third and the Fourth Plans are given below [Source.—District Statistical Officer, Wardha.]:—

(Area in 00' acres and Production in 00' tons)

Agricultural Development Programmes.

Second Five Year Plan.—The agricultural development programme during the Second Plan in this district related mainly to reclamation of land, multiplication and distribution of improved seeds, distribution of fertilisers, plant protection measures, etc.

For reclamation of lands under grass and bushes one tractor unit was established by the Government at Wardha, and an area of 32,261 acres was reclaimed during the plan, in addition to the area of 22,621 acres reclaimed during the First Plan.

In order to meet the increasing demand for improved seeds eight seed multiplication farms with a total area of 430 acres were established in the district. These farms evolved 4,440 quintals of improved seeds which were distributed to the registered seed growers for further multiplication. During the plan period 39,439 quintals of improved seeds were distributed and used on 6,60,500 acres of land.

In keeping with the rising demand for green manures and artificial fertilisers, a number of measures were taken to conserve the available manures and to encourage compost manures by giving subsidy. During the Second Plan 29,584 tons of town compost, 75,793 tons of other compost manures and 598 quintals of fertilisers were distributed which benefited 68,960 acres as against 40,120 acres during the First Plan.

Plant protection measures were deemed an important part of agricultural development. Under the scheme 78,785 lbs. of insecticides were distributed in the district. In order to increase the production of citrus fruits the government granted loans worth Rs. 1,13,000 to the cultivators at the rate of Rs. 300 per acre. An agricultural school was set up in the district to meet the needs of trained personnel.

Third Five Year Plan.—Agricultural development received the urgent attention of the planning authorities in this plan. With the saturation of the possibilities of extensive cultivation, agricultural development was deemed possible only by adopting better agrarian practices, use of improved seeds, fertilisers, scientific measures of plant protection and expansion of the area under irrigation. For this purpose ten district level schemes were formulated with a total plan outlay of Rs. 37.76 lakhs. Consequent upon the deficit food position, the government launched upon intensive kharif and rabi campaigns. This raised the total expenditure on agricultural development in the district to Rs. 49.17 lakhs during the plan.

Cotton is the principal crop in the district occupying about 40 per cent of the total cropped area. In order to improve the cultivation of this crop, the 'co-ordinated cotton extension scheme' was undertaken to cover more area under improved seed of cotton. The scheme was meant to cover the entire district under the new strains of cotton. During 1964-65 and 1965-66 about 7,989 and 6,228 quintals, respectively, of new strains of cotton seed were procured. Eradication of pests and diseases was sought to be done in various ways including aerial and ground spraying of the necessary chemicals. During 1965-66 cotton crop over about 38,109 acres benefited from ground spraying and about 10,137 acres from aerial spraying. Under the 'plant protection service' appliances like sprayers, and dusters were distributed at subsidised rates. During the plan period 722 implements, 449 sprayers and 211 dusters were distributed. An amount of Rs, 6.71 lakhs was spent on this service against the targeted amount of Rs. 4.80 lakhs.

A scheme for intensive cultivation of food crops in selected areas was undertaken with a plan outlay of Rs. 2.77 lakhs. The scheme was implemented from the third year of the plan in seven blocks wherein efforts were made to encourage increased production of jowar and wheat, and covered an area of about 1.03 lakh acres in 1964-65.

Multiplication of improved seeds was accorded an important place in the agricultural development in this plan. During the plan period the eight seed multiplication farms multiplied and distributed 699 quintals of wheat seed, 485 quintals of jowar seed, 65 quintals of tur seed, 14 quintals of mug and 15 quintals of paddy. The plan provided for the establishment of taluka seed farms with agricultural research facilities.

The plan also provided for expansion of the facilities for training in scientific agriculture. The scheme for propagation of improved agricultural implements envisaged to distribute 5,754 iron ploughs and 75 dry farming sets. The horticultural development programme accounted for Rs. 8.85 lakhs spent by way of loans and subsidy. The scheme covered new plantation in 1,830 acres during the first four years and 206 acres in the last year. It also covered rejuvenation programme in 1,066 acres against the target of 500 acres.

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