AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

OIL SEEDS

A variety of oil-seeds comprising groundnut, sesamum, safflower and linseed are grown in the district. Groundnut, sesamum, linseed and safflower are important among the edible-oil categories. The total area under oil-seeds in 1961-62 was 48301 hectares out of the net sown area of 764303 hectares. In 1971-72, 42254 hectares were under the cultivation of oil-seeds. The following tables show the area and outturn of oil-seeds in the district for 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970-71 and 1971-72

TABLE No. 16

Area under Oil-seeds* in Akola District in 1961-62, 1965-66, 1970-71 and 1971-72

(Area in hectares)

TABLE No. 16—contd.

*Only principal oil-seeds are given.

TABLE No. 17

Outturn of Oil-seeds in Akola District

(Figures in M. Tonnes.)

Groundnut: Groundnut covered an area of 35,388 hectares in 1961-62 as against 28,494 hectares in 1971-72. It was grown all over the district with Mangrulpir tahsil accounting for the largest area of 9,203 hectares in 1971-72, while Akola tahsil stood next with 5,504 hectares during the same year.

Groundnut is grown as a kharif crop in the district. It requires about 25" of rainfall in case of dry farming.

Black cotton soils are also put to groundnut cultivation besides light sandy, medium black soils. Deep ploughing, intensive harrowing and intereculturing are of prime importance. The crop is sown in June-July and harvested in the month of October. Green manure is generally applied mixed with 10 kg. of N₂ and 10 kg. of P₂ O₅ at the time of sowing. The seeds are sown either by dibbling method or drilled with argada and sarata. Interculturing and weeding has to be done regularly. The crop is ready for harvest by the middle of October. It is done by uprooting plants from the ground. Pods are separated by hand or by beating the pods on log of wood.

Groundnut kernel is used in many ways. Us oil is used for cooking purpose, while the cake is used as a manure especially for bananas. It is also a good food for cattle.

Linseed : Linseed (jawas or alshi) is a rubi crop grown along with wheal and jowar with strips of about nine rows alternating with a few rows of wheat. It covered an area of 8,742 hectares in 1961-62 as compared to 4,424 hectares in 1967-68. It is grown on a large scale in the Akola and Murtizapur tahsils.

Black cotton soils and alluvial soils are congenial for its good growth The crop can be produced with irrigation facility. Sowing is done with wheat or gram in October-November and is harvested in January-February. The land is ploughed and harrowed three times. Seeds are sown at the rate of 12 lbs. per acre whereas its yield is about 400 to 500 lbs. per acre. After ripening, the plants are uprooted and dried plants are beaten with sticks to thrash out the seeds Linseed cake is a good manure as also the best food for milch cattle.

Sesamum : Sesamum (til) is the next important crop in the district among oil seeds. It covered an area of 2,758 hectares in 1961-62 as against 2,673 hectares in 1965-66. Akola and Akot are the main sesamum producing tahsils of the district. It is mostly a kharif crop and is grown on medium to heavy soils. The seeds are sown at the rate of 2 lbs. per acre. The crop becomes mature within 120 to 130 days It yields about 400 lbs. per acre in good and manured soils.

This crop gives good return to the cultivators as it is grown as a mixed crop with jowar, groundnut and cotton.

Safflower : Washim tahsil was the main producer of safflower accounting for 867 hectares of the total district area of 926 hectares under this crop in 1961-62. In the year 1965-66 safflower was cultivated on 842 hectares in the district.

It is sown in the months of October-November and harvested in February-March. As the crop is grown alongwith other crops, no special preparation is necessary. It requires medium to heavy soils and yields about 200 lbs. to 250 lbs. per acre.

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