AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

SUGARCANE

SUGARCANE OCCUPIES AN IMPORTANT PLACE in the economy of the district as it is the most important cash crop of the district. The total area under this crop has increased considerably in recent years as against only 9,900 acres reported by Kolhapur State Gazetteer (1886). The following figures show how the area under this crop has increased in recent years: -

The sugarcane crop requires plenty of water supply. The increase in area under the crop is mainly due to increased irrigation facilities in recent years, namely, pacca bandharas and co-operative lift irrigation societies. In fact, the entire acreage under sugarcane has been reported as irrigated in 1955-56.

Oos (sugarcane) is grown throughout the district. The four talukas of Karvir, Radhanagari, Panhala, and Hatkanangle, taken together occupied more than 60 per cent, of the total area under the crop in 1955-56. The following table shows talukawise distribution of the area under sugarcane in that year:-

TABLE No. 21.

AREA IN ACRES UNDER SUGAR CROPS IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.

Sugarcane crop is a twelve month crop and is planted in the month of December-January. The land is ploughed thrice after the harvest of paddy crop and farm yard manure or town compost is applied at the rate of 30 to 40 cart loads per acre. Before planting furrows are made at a distance of two and half to three feet for irrigation. Sugarcane sets are then planted by pressing under the feet. Sulphate of ammonia is applied before planting the sets, as it helps germination. Top dressing of sulphate of ammonia is given after about a month and a half or two months after weeding and first earthing up (bal bharani). Another top dressing of sulphate or oil cake is given at the time of final earthing up in May. In all about 200 lbs. of nitrogen is given in the form of sulphate of ammonia. This is called plant (suru) cane.

The ratoon cane is also taken in the district extensively; two ratoons are invariably taken and, at times four to five or even about seven to eight ratoons are taken. After the harvesting of sugarcane crop, the stems left in the soil germinate in about three weeks' time. The furrows are broken on both the sides, and farm yard manure or town compost is added. Sulphate of ammonia or oil cake is also applied and the open furrows are again made up. Watering is done thereafter. In this way, the ratoon crop is taken year after year without disturbing the soil fertility. The cost of seed and cultivation is also saved to a certain extent.

There is no adsali sugarcane cultivation in Kolhapur as is followed in the Deccan canal tracts because of heavy rainfall conditions obtaining in some parts of the district. As such this method of planting cane crop has been replaced by the rajooing method. In this method, sugarcane sets, having about five to six eye buds, are planted erect in a nursery in the month of July. About four-five eye buds are kept above the ground. The land is ploughed and laid out in furrows before monsoon. The land so prepared is again laid in furrows in the month of August-September, depending upon rainfall conditions, by breaking the furrows already prepared. The germinated sets from the nursery bed are then taken out and sets containing one germinated eye bud are selected for transplanting in the furrows. This transplanting is done in the month of September. The crop takes full fifteen months to mature as against eighteen months in the Deccan canal tracts. The yield per acre under this method is, at least, twenty-five per cent, more compared to that of plant (suru) and ratoon cane grown in the district. However, this practice is followed by the sugar factories only.

The sugarcane crop exhausts the soil almost completely and, therefore, fertility of the soil has to be maintained by heavy manuring or crop rotations. In this district, sugarcane is rotated with rice. Progressive cultivators of the district are adopting improved method or schedule recommended by Padegaon Research Station.

The local variety of sugarcane, namely, pundia is grown only in a few places far away in the interior. The improved variety, namely, Co. 419 is grown throughout the district and covers most of the area under the sugarcane in the district. This cane, in addition to being high yielding, can stand drought conditions much better than any other cane. The Co. 475 variety, which was introduced in the district and gave better performance than the Co. 419, has been withdrawn due to its high susceptibility to rust and smut diseases. The current variety of cane is hard to crush and as such all over the district power crushers are used for the purpose. Padegaon Research Station has released two improved strains of sugarcane namely, Co. 775 and Co. 678, which are under trial in the district. Its likely that Co. 775 may replace Co. 419 because of higher sugar percentage. Its habit of growth is erect.

Sugarcane is used for chewing; its juice is also extracted for drinking. However, bulk of the crop is used for preparing gul and white sugar. The jaggery of Kolhapur is well-known not only in the State but all over India. The recovery percentage (of sugar) is also the highest in India (about fourteen per cent). At present (1957) there is only one sugar factory in Kolhapur district, though there are plans to start more factories on a co-operative basis.

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