AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

DRUGS AND NARCOTICS

DRUGS AND NARCOTICS OCCUPIED about four per cent, of the gross cropped area in the district in 1955-56. Only two crops under this head have been reported, namely tobacco and betel leaves. The following table gives the acreage under each of these crops in each taluka of the district in 1955-56: -

TABLE No. 20.
AREA IN ACRES UNDER DRUGS AND NARCOTICS IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.

Tambaku.

Tambaku (tobacco) is an important cash crop of the district. It is grown mostly in the talukas of Shirol, Hatkanangle, Gadhinglaj and Kagal. In other talukas the area under cultivation is rather negligible.

Tobacco seed is sown in seed beds in June-July, preferably on manure heaps laid out in the fields. The seedlings are transplanted in the month of August. Prior to sowing, the soil is richly manured by farm yard manure, sheep folding, and green manure of sunn hemp or udid. The distance between two plants and rows varies from three to three and half feet. The plant is not allowed to flower. All the buds and branches are ripped off as early as possible. The land is intercultured by means of entire blade hces called tambaku kulav, every ten days, till the crop is harvested. Interculturing is done horizontally and vertically, to retain moisture in the ground. The plants are cut in January-February, about four inches above the ground, and dried in the sun. After sun curing, mid-ribs of tobacco leaves are removed by hands. The leaves are powdered and are then ready for sale. The district grows only bidi variety of tobacco. This tobacco is used for bidi-making on a large scale and, therefore, large quantities are exported from the district. This tobacco is also used for making snuff. The local variety, known as akol, is well-known in the market. A new variety of tobacco called S-20 has been evolved at Tobacco Research Station, Nipani, and is replacing the local variety.

Panvel.

Panvel (betel-leaf) is a garden crop and was grown only in six talukas, Hatkanangle and Shirol talukas together having most of the acreage under this crop in the district, in 1955-56. It is a vine and is grown in light, medium black and well drained soil. Heavy manuring and continuous irrigation are necessary. The vines continue to bear for ten to fifteen years, if carefully looked after. Each betel-leaf garden, called pan mala, generally covers about half an acre of land, depending upon the availability of water. The garden is laid out in beds (wafas) and 18 such beds cover one chira, which means nearly an area of one guntha. As they grow quickly, the trees of shevri and pangora are planted in advance one to four feet apart to support the vines which are later trained to support themselves on these trees. The whole garden has to be protected from wind and sun by high hedges or screens of grass or dried banana-leaves. The garden is irrigated only by well water. Banana suckers are also planted at each corner of the chira. The vines begin to bear in the third year and are at their best during fourth to tenth year and under favourable conditions, continue to yield for another four-five years. Every year in March, April and May, vines are coiled away and buried above root under fresh soil, preferably the soil brought from the mali lands on the banks of the rivers; manure is also given.

A betel-leaf garden requires sizeable investment in initial stages. Considerable care has to be taken throughout the year in weeding, watering, picking and killing of insects and pests. Cultivation of betel-leaf is more remunerative than that of any other garden crop in the district. Betel leaves are exported to Poona and Bombay. The betel-leaf is used by all classes of people for chewing.

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