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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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CEREALS.
The important food crops grown in the district include jowar, wheat, rice, bajri, gram and tur. Among non-food crops cotton and groundnut are the most important. What follows is the description of various stages of cultivation till harvesting of each crop. The pests and diseases to which these crops arc susceptible are described separately. Tahsil-wise area and outturn of cereals in the district from 1957-58 to 1965-66 is given in table Nos. 7 and 8.
TABLE No. 7
AREA UNDER CEREALS (TAHSIL-WISE) IN YEOTMAL DISTRICT FROM 1957-58 TO 1965-66
(In Acres) |
Tahsil |
Year |
Rice |
Wheat |
Barley |
Jowar |
Bajri |
Maize |
Ragi |
Italia n Millets | |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
|
Yeotmal |
1957-58 |
3,300 |
6,494 |
-- |
1,12,865 |
5,973 |
9 |
-- |
-- |
1959-60 |
3,425 |
8,295 |
-- |
1,04,340 |
5,483 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
1961-62 |
4,212 |
7,144 |
-- |
1,04,131 |
5,334 |
9 |
-- |
-- |
1963-64 |
4,692 |
6,745 |
-- |
1,05,769 |
5,538 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
1965-66 |
4,427 |
5,164 |
-- |
1,12,891 |
6,071 |
14 |
-- |
-- |
|
Darwha |
1957-58 |
3,243 |
2,434 |
2 |
1,41,864 |
7,509 |
12 |
19 |
-- |
1959-60 |
3,398 |
4,220 |
-- |
1,38,557 |
7,601 |
7 |
-- |
-- |
1961-62 |
4,077 |
4,201 |
-- |
1,38,215 |
7,907 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1963-64 |
4,599 |
4,505 |
-- |
1,37,619 |
6,456 |
13 |
-- |
-- |
1965-66 |
4,400 |
3,194 |
-- |
1,45,057 |
7,786 |
39 |
2 |
-- |
|
Pusad |
1957-58 |
8,900 |
16,380 |
-- |
1,53,360 |
5,799 |
18 |
2 |
-- |
1959-60 |
9,001 |
30,027 |
-- |
1,47,026 |
6,336 |
10 |
-- |
-- |
continued..
|
Pusad |
1961-62 |
9,588 |
24,119 |
-- |
1,50,061 |
6,599 |
7 |
3 |
-- |
1963-64 |
9,410 |
20,639 |
-- |
1,55,034 |
6,418 |
17 |
3 |
-- |
1965-66 |
9,905 |
4,450 |
-- |
1,55,382 |
6,387 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
|
Kelapur |
1957-58 |
5,281 |
6,341 |
-- |
1,36,423 |
4,745 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1959-60 |
5,251 |
9,012 |
-- |
1,29,996 |
4,915 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
1961-62 |
5,525 |
6,981 |
-- |
1,30,012 |
4,491 |
11 |
-- |
-- |
1963-64 |
5,679 |
7,003 |
-- |
1,27,205 |
4,944 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1965-66 |
6,032 |
9,905 |
-- |
36,927 |
5,067 |
26 |
-- |
-- |
|
Wani |
1957-58 |
2,914 |
14,505 |
-- |
1,16,340 |
743 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1959-60 |
3,148 |
18,542 |
-- |
1,12,000 |
694 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1961-62 |
3,811 |
16,325 |
-- |
1,10,464 |
476 |
33 |
-- |
-- |
1963-64 |
3,957 |
13,896 |
-- |
1,18,423 |
648 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
1965-66 |
5,009 |
12,962 |
-- |
1,22,349 |
812 |
17 |
-- |
-- |
|
District Total |
1957-58 |
23,638 |
46,154 |
2 |
6,60,852 |
24,769 |
55 |
21 |
-- |
1959-60 |
24,223 |
70,096 |
-- |
6,31,918 |
25,029 |
31 |
-- |
-- |
1961-62 |
27,213 |
58,770 |
-- |
6,32,883 |
24,807 |
68 |
3 |
-- |
1963-64 |
28,337 |
52,788 |
-- |
6,44,050 |
24,004 |
46 |
3 |
-- |
1965-66 |
29,773 |
35,675 |
-- |
5,72,606 |
26,123 |
105 |
7 |
7 |
TABLE No. 7—contd.
AREA UNDER CEREALS (TAHSIL-WISE) IN YEOTMAL DISTRICT FROM 1957-58 TO 1965-66
(In Acres) |
Tahsil |
Year |
Kodra |
Little millets or Kutaki |
Common millets |
Vari |
Sava |
Banti |
Bhadli |
Other Cereals |
Total Cereals | |
(1) |
(2) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
(14) |
(15) |
(16) |
(17) |
(18) |
(19) |
|
Yeotmal |
1957-58 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
104 |
1,28,745 |
1959-60 |
-- |
-- |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16 |
67 |
1,21,634 |
1961-62 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
25 |
50 |
1,20,906 |
1963-64 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
4 |
8 |
80 |
1,22,838 |
1965-66 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
4 |
64 |
1,28,636 |
|
Darwha |
1957-58 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5 |
-- |
80 |
123 |
1,55,291 |
1959-60 |
-- |
-- |
32 |
-- |
15 |
-- |
156 |
47 |
1,54,033 |
1961-62 |
-- |
-- |
35 |
-- |
7 |
5 |
65 |
134 |
1,54,654 |
1963-64 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
8 |
15 |
29 |
249 |
1,53,495 |
1965-66 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
6 |
-- |
90 |
120 |
1,60,694 |
|
Pusad |
1957-58 |
-- |
75 |
-- |
-- |
15 |
-- |
24 |
760 |
1,85,333 |
1959-60 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
24 |
-- |
550 |
101 |
1,93,075 |
1961-62 |
-- |
5 |
-- |
-- |
13 |
49 |
514 |
132 |
1,91,090 |
1963-64 |
2 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
19 |
38 |
452 |
70 |
1,92,107 |
1965-66 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24 |
17 |
439 |
95 |
1,76,724 |
|
Kelapur |
1957-58 |
-- |
-- |
7 |
8 |
3 |
-- |
14 |
42 |
1,52,872 |
1959-60 |
-- |
2 |
167 |
-- |
2 |
-- |
84 |
101 |
1,49,532 |
1961-62 |
-- |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
46 |
138 |
1,47,209 |
1963-64 |
-- |
6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
48 |
139 |
1,45,032 |
1965-66 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24 |
107 |
58,088 |
|
Wani |
1957-58 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
53 |
1,34,563 |
1959-60 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16 |
85 |
1,34,493 |
1961-62 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
30 |
-- |
40 |
96 |
1,31,275 |
1963-64 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
36 |
31 |
1,36,997 |
1965-66 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5 |
5 |
-- |
60 |
176 |
1,41,395 |
|
District Total |
1957-58 |
-- |
75 |
7 |
8 |
23 |
-- |
118 |
1,082 |
7,56,804 |
1959-60 |
-- |
3 |
203 |
-- |
41 |
-- |
822 |
401 |
7,52,767 |
1961-62 |
-- |
10 |
35 |
-- |
51 |
54 |
690 |
550 |
7,45,134 |
1963-64 |
2 |
11 |
-- |
2 |
27 |
57 |
573 |
569 |
7,50,469 |
1965-66 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
5 |
36 |
17 |
617 |
562 |
6,65,537 |
TABLE No. 8
OUTTURN OF CEREALS (TAHSIL-WISE) IN YEOTMAL DISTRICT FROM
1957-58 TO 1963-64
(In tons) |
Tahsil |
Year |
Rice |
Wheat |
Jowar |
Bajri |
Barley |
Maize |
Ragi |
Kutaki |
Common millets |
Total cereals | |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
|
Yeotmal |
1957-58 |
339 |
768 |
23,833 |
907 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
25,848 |
1959-60 |
433 |
1,233 |
10,868 |
490 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
13,024 |
1961-62 |
579 |
1,129 |
12,180 |
417 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
14,306 |
1963-64 |
618 |
786 |
20,634 |
742 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
22,780 |
|
Darwha |
1957-58 |
426 |
312 |
29,956 |
1,515 |
04 |
2 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
32,217 |
1959-60 |
339 |
927 |
18,062 |
848 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
2 |
20,179 |
1961-62 |
430 |
664 |
13,698 |
706 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15,499 |
1963-64 |
513 |
668 |
22,146 |
1,005 |
-- |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24,334 |
|
Pusad |
1957-58 |
1,056 |
2,022 |
28,535 |
932 |
-- |
3 |
-- |
7 |
-- |
32,555 |
1959-60 |
1,137 |
3,396 |
18,302 |
424 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
20,260 |
1961-62 |
1,241 |
910 |
19,467 |
736 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
22,355 |
1963-64 |
962 |
2,145 |
20,196 |
860 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
24,164 |
|
Kelapur |
1957-58 |
623 |
865 |
28,807 |
957 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
31,254 |
1959-60 |
509 |
134 |
1,290 |
439 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
9 |
2,381 |
1961-62 |
54 |
1,038 |
15,206 |
451 |
-- |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16,751 |
1963-64 |
647 |
1,064 |
23,169 |
772 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
25,653 |
|
Wani |
1957-58 |
337 |
1,945 |
24,566 |
119 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26,968 |
1959-60 |
305 |
2,658 |
11,043 |
46 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
14,053 |
1961-62 |
402 |
2,281 |
12,981 |
58 |
-- |
3 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
15,725 |
1963-64 |
497 |
2,078 |
23,619 |
101 |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26,296 |
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District Total |
1957-58 |
2,781 |
5,912 |
1,35,697 |
4,430 |
0.4 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
1,48,842 |
1959-60 |
2,723 |
8,348 |
56,565 |
2,247 |
-- |
3 |
-- |
-- |
11 |
69,897 |
1961-62 |
2,706 |
6,022 |
73,532 |
2,368 |
-- |
8 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
84,636 |
1963-64 |
3,237 |
6,741 |
1,09,764 |
3,480 |
-- |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,23.227 |
Jowar.
Since 1908, jowar has remained the most widely cultivated food
crop of the district. Though cotton is more profitable than any
other crop, jowar which occupies a larger area, is also quite important. Its long stalks, karba, form the chief fodder supply,
and the chaff, kutar, is also given to cattle. Generally, a cultivator to some extent devotes a larger area to jowar depending
upon the size of the family for which he must provide food. The average area under jowar for five years ending 1908 was 9,37,000 acres. The same decreased to 5,72,606 acres during the period of five years ending with 1965-66. Sometimes jowar and mug are sown mixed together, ordinary proportion being eight parts of jowar to one of mug. One reason for sowing the two crops together may he that the leaves of mug drop off and serve as manure to jowar. Besides this, mug is an important food-grain itself. In 1908, over a dozen varieties of jowar were grown in the district. The old Gazetteer however does not mention the names of the jowar varieties sown in those days.
Formerly, the cultivators in the district used to burn their old karbi, jowar stalks, just before sowing the new crop because it was said that the new crop would not grow till the old one had been destroyed. This practice increased the difficulty of getting fodder at the 1899-1900 famine, and has been given up from that time.
Selected seed of jowar or the improved sooner jowar seed is generally sown in the 2nd and 3rd week of July. Sowing is almost always done by means of a light treble drill, tifan. Formerly, in some parts of the district, branches, generally of habhul wood, were tied to the back of the tifan to cover the seed with soil: this was called phasati. In other parts the light plough which was known as wakhar, but which when thus used was called rasni followed the tifan for the same purpose. Jowar is generally weeded twice with a light bullock hoe, daura, and once by hand. Jowar is not sown as a rabi crop in the district.
Now-a-days for getting high yields hybrid jowar is grown in the district. CHS 1 and CHS-2 are the two hybrid varieties. Of these CHS-1 is mostly suited to the irrigated summer tracts. Its duration is 90 to 100 days. It is a dwarf variety with long ears and creamy white bold grains. The other variety, viz., CHS-2 has a duration of 115 to 120 days and is taller than CHS-1. In areas where late rains are likely to damage the already mature ears of CHS-1 because of its short duration, the CHS-2 variety gives better results. Both these hybrid varieties are suitable for grain production rather than fodder production because of their high grain to straw ratio.
A uniform and level, piece of land with good drainage is selected and brought to fine tilth by repeated ploughings and harrowings. Farmyard manure or well-rotted compost is applied before the last ploughing. Lastly, sowing is done when there is enough moisture in the soil. About 11 pounds of seed are required per acre. The seed is drilled not more than 4 centimetres deep in rows 45 centimetres apart. For a kharif crop it is
sown before July and in areas where heavy rains are received in September. Immediately after germination, the gaps, if any, arc filled up by hand dibbling. The crop is thinned out 3 or 4 weeks after germination to retain one plant after every 4 to 6 inches in a line.
For rainfed areas nitrogen at the rate of 33 pounds per acre and potash at the rate of 31 pounds per acre give better result. For irrigated area, nitrogen at 50 to 60 pounds per acre and phosphoric acid at 55 pounds per acre are applied.
Where shoot fly is serious, application of 1.5 grams of phorate per metre of the row length at the time of sowing controls the pest effectively.
Bajri.
Bajri is generally grown in areas having moderately dry
climate and rainfall ranging from 7 inches to 40 inches. It is entirely a kharif crop and is sown after the first showers of monsoon. It can grow even on soils 6 to 9 inches in depth. The land is prepared by harrowing it two or three times in April and May. After the first showers of monsoon one more harrowing is given. The seed is drilled in the second fortnight of June. Prior to sowing compost manure is applied to land. About two hand-weedings and two interculturings are given to the crop. The crop becomes ready for harvesting towards the. end of October when it is reaped with a sickle close to the ground. After two days the stalks are bound into bundles and stacked near the threshing floor.
The ear heads of grain are then removed and stacked in the threshing floor where they are trampled under the feet of bullocks. After this winnowing is done by taking advantage of a gentle breeze.
Nowadays, for assured high yields, hybrid bajri is grown in the district. However, it is produced on a small scale. About 3½ to 4½ pounds are sown per acre. The hybrid seed is sown 5 centimetres in depth keeping the distance of about 45 to 60 centimetres (18 to 24 inches) between the two rows. At the planting time, 30 pounds of nitrogen and 50 pounds of phosphoric acid per acre are applied. If potash is recommended for the soil. 30 pounds per acre are given. Under irrigated conditions more nitrogen is applied. About 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre in two equal split doses are given. To keep the grasshoppers and other pests away from the crop, 12 kilograms of 10 per cent BHC are sprayed in a hectare after a fortnight of germination of the crop. Rats which cause heavy damage to the crop can be killed by poison baiting with zinc phosphide.
Wheat.
Wheat, gahu, is the most important spring or rabi crop, the average area under it during the five years ending 1908 being 71,000 acres. On good black soil, with a fairly heavy rainfall, wheat is more profitable than cotton, but it is not profitable on light soil or with a poor rainfall. People sometimes plough up
a cotton crop which has failed through an untimely break in the rains, and sow wheat or some other rabi crop instead. Formerly wheat was largely grown in parts of Pusad and in Ycotmal tahsil below the ghats. By 1908, the kinds of wheat mostly grown were kathi, bansi and haura. Kathi-hard, red and bearded wheat was much the most common. Bansi-white and softer variety, was grown to a less extent, and only on good soils. Haura-hard, white and bearded type, was grown least of all. Kathi and bansi varieties of wheat are still produced in the district. However, the Agriculture Department has recently recommended Hy-65 as the improved variety of wheat. Wheat is sown in the first fortnight of October with a two or three coultered seed drill, with a distance of 12 to 18 inches between the rows. Before sowing, the land is brought to fine tilth by ploughing and two to three harrowings. Suitable beds are prepared and the first irrigation is given 21 to 30 days after sowing. The number of irrigations vary from 4 to 10. Two or three interculturings are also given. The crop takes about five months to mature and is ready for harvest by March. The plants are cut close to the ground, tied into bundles and brought to the threshing floor. After it is completely dried, the seeds are threshed either by beating with sticks or under the feet of bullocks. Irrigated wheat is grown alone and rotated with cotton, groundnut, jowar, etc. Dry, wheat is grown year after year in many places or rotated with cotton, jowar, bajri, kodra, gram. etc. The dry crop is sometimes sown alone or mixed with safflower, linseed or gram.
Rice.
Compared to the State average, the district has a very low proportion of area under rice. Of the four tahsils in the district Pusad tahsil occupied the highest gross cropped area, viz., 2.09 per cent, under rice and Darwha the lowest, 0.77 per cent in 1961.
Rice grows well in warm and moist climate, It requires higher rainfall and can stand higher temperature than any other cereal. After the first showers of monsoon or even prior to it seeds are sown in specially prepared seed beds and allowed to grow till the end of the first week of July when the seedlings are removed and transplanted in the fields having ample water. The crop becomes ready for harvest from October to December. It is cut close to the ground, tied into bundles and carried to the threshing floor where it is allowed to dry before threshing. Threshing is done by beating the bundles against a log of wood or even a stone. After paddy, nulses like tur, gram and wal are grown in the lands having sufficient moisture. The improved varieties of rice sown in the district are E.B.-17, Sultgurmatia X-22, etc.
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