Agriculture in AhmednagarGAURAV TALE111109035INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL

GUIDED BY- DR. C. Y. PATIL

LLC- AgricultureEnd Semester Presentation

Introduction

Ahmednagar is the biggest district of Maharashtra in terms of area and population. 

The total geographical area of the district is 17.41 lakh ha. The net cropped area is 12,56,500 ha, out of which an area of

3,30,000 ha. (26.27 %) is under canal (84,000 ha) and well irrigation.

About 9,26,500 ha.( 73.73 %) area is rain fed.  The area under Kharif crops is 4,60,000 ha. (36.6 per cent) while

7,58,000 ha (60.32 per cent) area is under Rabi crops.  A multiple cropping system is followed on 1,10,500 ha. area. A total of 8.73 per cent area of the district is under forest

Soil Type

The soil types of the district are broadly divided into four categories namely coarse shallow soil medium black soil deep black soil reddish soil

They occupy about 38, 41, 13 and 8 percent of the cultivated area respectively. In the first two categories, soil moisture is the predominant limiting factor affecting productivity of crops particularly under rainfed condition.

Rainfall and Temperature

The climate of the district is hot and dry, on whole extremely genial and is characterized by a hot summer and general dryness during major part of the year except during south-west monsoon season.

Average rainfall = 566 mm. Major rainfall during month of June to September. The average temperature ranges between 9 0c (during Dec.) to

41 0C (during April and May)

Water Resources

32.27 % of the cultivated area is under irrigation 71.46 % under well irrigation (including lift irrigation) remaining area under canal irrigation.

3 major irrigation projects namely upper Godavari Pravara Mulahaving 2, 18 and 28 percent of the irrigated areas. In the south-western part of the district there are two command projects (namely Ghod & Kukadi) which are having 15 percent of the irrigated area. Besides this, there are 7 medium projects and 90 minor projects covering 16 and 5 percent of the total irrigated areas.

Agroclimatic Zones

Ahmednagar district is mainly recognized as multidimensional situation. District is divided into three agro climatic zones viz. Scarcity Zone, Plain (Transition) zone and  Ghat (Hilly) zone

A. Scarcity ZoneB. Plain (Transition) ZoneC. Ghat (Hilly) Zone

Scarcity Zone

This zone is occupied the whole district except one block i.e. Akole, the remaining 13 blocks are under this zone.

The average rainfall of this zone ranges from 500 to 700 mm received in 40 to 45 days. About 70-80per cent of annual rainfall is received during monsoon period (June to September).  Soil varies from reddish brown to dark gray and commonly grouped as light to medium black soil. In very few places deep black soil is also observed. Erratic nature of rainfall affects the moisture content in the soil, therefore, this zone is commonly known as drought prone area.

Cropping pattern: Major crops grown in this zone are pearl millet, sorghum, safflower, Bengal gram, wheat, sugarcane etc

Plain (Transition) Zone

This zone is confined only to eastern part of Akole block. Geographically this zone has only 4% of the district area. The rainfall in this zone is 700 to 1250 mm annually which is well distributed. Soils are grayish black with varying texture and depth.

Cropping pattern: The main crops grown in this region are pearl millet, green gram, benegal gram and wheat. Due to irrigation facility, farmers are growing. Vegetables like tomato, gourds and fruit crops like pomegranate, mango  and Sugarcane

Ghat (Hilly) Zone

This zone is situated in northwestern part of the district in western part of Akole block. Geographically this zone has only 4% of the district area. The rainfall in this zone is very high which ranges from 1500 to 3000 mm .The land is mostly covered with forest and sometimes acidic in nature having poor fertility with low phosphorus and potash contents.

Cropping pattern:  About 50 percent of the geographical area of this zone is under forest, The crops taken in kharif season are Paddy, Ragi, groundnut, pulses and Niger. The vegetables are also grown in paddy terraces on residual moisture

Agro Ecological Situations

On the basis of soil types and sources of irrigation, the district has been categorized into eight Agro Ecological Situations viz. assured and unassured irrigation system in command area with medium and light soil and the rainfed area with black cotton, medium As well as light soils.

The existing farming systems being adopted by majority of farmers in rainfed area of district are characterizes by existence of food grain crops including mostly Bajra, Jowar as cereals and Mung, Udid, and Tur as pulse crops in combination with dairy and animal husbandry

The analysis of the farming systems in command areas indicates the dominance of sugarcane as a cash crop with dairy as an inseparable combination and it is being supplemented by either vegetables and food grain crops or horticultural crops.

Socio-Economic & Agri Condition

Total population of the district is 40.88 lakhs of which 32.84 lakhs is living in the rural area whereas 8.04 lakhs lives in urban area.  The literacy of the district is 75.82 percent. The female to male ratio of the district is 941.

In the district, there are 6.8 lakh farming families, out of these 32.45 per cent farmers are having less than 2 ha land holding, 57.89 per cent farmers are having land holding between 2-10 ha. and 9.66 per cent farmers have a land holding with more than 10 ha.

      Total 3.8 lakhs are agriculture laborer, 7.88 lakhs are SC/ST population, 2.11 lakh are dairy and sheep owners and total working population is 14.32 lakh.

Co-operative Development

First co-operative sugar factory at Pravaranagar (1949), 1st of its kind in the Asian continent.

Ahmednagar is a pioneer district in co-operative development & in upliftment of sugarcane cultivators through the sugar factories. 

Similarly dairy co-operatives have also developed as a secondary movement for the benefit of the dairy farmers.

14 co-operative sugar factories, 9310 co-operative societies, 1281 co-operatives dairy societies and 4 fruit and vegetable co-operative societies are the backbone of the district providing impetus to the rural economy.

Co-operative sector in the district is dealing with all types of needs of the farming community, village prosperity and all-round socio-economic development of the district.

Opportunities

Ample scope for utilization of raw material to promote agro based industries in rural youth

Farmers driven research and extension through groups Use of information technology Communication for environment friendly technologies and

concepts

References

Wikipedia KVK Pravara College Survey on Agriculture in Ahmednagar www.mahaagri.gov.in Maharashtra Agriculture Contingency Plan for Ahmednagar

District (2011)