Sugarcane

Sugarcane is not an important crop of the district and it is sown in the limited area, because there is no sugar mill in the district. Moreover, sugarcane crop requires lot of water. Canal water is inadequate in this district and under groundwater is mostly unfit for irrigation. During the year 1988-89, the area under this crop was 1.7 thousand hectares only and its production was 8 thousand metric tonnes.

Groundnut

It is a kharif crop of the district. It is sown in a limited area. There has been no expansion in its cultivation because under irrigated conditions, this crop has less profitability than cotton. But under irrigated condition, this crop cannot be grown successfully due to low rainfall. During 1988-99, the area under groundnut in the district was only 0.6 thousand hectares and its production was merely 1 thousand metric tonnes.

Oilseeds

Among the oilseeds grown in the district, the most important are rape and mustard. Sesamum and groundnut are grown in small area. During the year 1988-89, rape and mustard were grown in 26.2 thousand hectares and their production was 25 thousand metric tonnes.

Vegetables. – Vegetables are grown on limited area in the district. There is an ample scope for bringing more and more area under vegetables, because various type of soil is available in the district which is suitable for vegetable cultivation.

The total area under vegetables in the district during 1988-89 was 2,462 hectares. The following vegetables are grown in the district :-

Summer Vegetables : Lady finger (bhindi), bottle-gourd (ghia kaddu), brinjal,

round and long (baingan), musk-melon good type (kharbuza), sponge-gourd (ghia), radge-gourd (kali tori), water-melon (tarbuz), chillies (mirch), sweet-potato (shakarkandi).

Winter Vegetables : Carrot (gajar), raddish (muli), turnip (shalgam), spinach

(palak), onion (piaz), peas (matar), and potato (alu), cauliflower (phulgobhi), cabbage (bandgobhi).

Potatoes are also grown in the district. During 1988-89, the area under potatoes was 259 hectares.

Fruit crops and Gardens. – Fruits have great importance from the point of view of agriculturists for the high returns from their cultivation. The main fruits grown in the district are kinno, ber and citrus. The area under fruits in the district during 1988-89 was 3,404 hectares.

(iv) Improved Agricultural Practices

Improved agricultural practices play a vital role in increasing productivity in agriculture. Increase in productivity is the result of increased irrigation facilities, introduction of high yielding varieties (H.Y.V.) of crops, application of chemical fertilizers, adoption of multiple cropping pattern, plant protection measures and use of improved agricultural implements, etc. But use of improved and high yielding varieties of seeds is the most important in bettering agricultural production. The high yielding varieties of different crops sown in the district are given below :

Name of crop	Variety
Wheat	WG 357, WG 377, WL 711, WL 1562, DWL 5023, HD 2009, PBW 12, PBW 34, PBW 54, HD 2329, PBW 120, HD 2285, PBW 138, WL 410, TL 419
Paddy	PR 106, IR 8, Jaya, P 579, Basmati, PR 4141, PR 103
Maize	Vijay, Ganga-5, Ageti 76
Cotton	LH 372, F 414, J 34, LD 230, F 286, LH 900
Gram	C 235, C 214, G 543, G 130, GL 769
Groundnut	M 13, Pb. G. No. I 1, M 145
Sugarcane	COJ 64, COJ 1146, COJ 1148

The area under high-yielding varieties during 1988-89 was : wheat 329, rice 31, maize 1 and bajra 2 thousand hectares, respectively in the district.

The percentage of the area under high-yielding varieties to the total cropped area in the district for wheat, rice, maize, bajra during 1977-78 and 1981-82 to 1988-89, is given below :

Name of Crop	1977-78	1981-82	1982-83	1983-84	1984-85	1985-86	1986-87	1987-88	1988-89
Wheat	91.59	100.00	100.00	99.35	99.66	99.66	100.00	99.68	100.00
Rice	66.66	100.00	92.03	100.00	100.00	97.02	100.00	100.00	100.00
Maize	33.33	100.00	75.00	100.00	66.66	50.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Bajra	44.18	84.21	---	86.24	72.16	70.32	83.33	47.61	48.78

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1978 to 1989)

(v) Farmers’ Training Camps

A farmer’s Training Centre is working in the district under the control of the District Training Officer, Training Officer (M), Training Officer (F.M.) and subject Matter specialist.

Farmers’ Training camps play a key role in changing the attitude of the people towards agricultural development in the district. These camps are initiated to educate large number of farmers on scientific farming, Special training programmes are organised twice a year at district, block and village level. Various problems of farmers are discussed and they are helped to implicate the latest package practices so that they may get maximum yield from their produce. Every year about 2,00,000 farmers are trained during rabi and kharif seasons.

(vi) District Rural Development Agency, Bathinda

It was established as ‘Small Marginal Farmers’ and Agricultural Labourers’ Agency, Bathinda during 1973-74. Later on, its name was changed to Small Farmers’ Development Agency and it is known as ‘District Rural Development Agency’, Bathinda. The main activity of the Agency is ‘Poverty Eradication’ under 20-Point Economic Programme.

The Agency has taken up manifold programme to ameliorate the economic conditions of poverty stricken and down trodden masses in the countryside. For the economic development, there is a need for an easy flow of credit, but in the beginning, financial institutions were reluctant and shy to advance loans to the rural poor, lest the loans get converted into bad debts.

The Agency, with active and constant efforts has now made the financial institutions to come forward and advance loans in a big way to the economically weaker sections so that they may be able to set up their units and earn their livelihood and at the same time pay off their loans. Various schemes have been prepared under Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Minor Irrigation, ISB and Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM). The small farmers are entitled to get the of the total financial outlay as subsidy while marginal farmers/agricultural labourers are entitled to get rd as subsidy. In addition, the interest accrued on the loan amounts is paid by the State Government.

The year-wise progress of the Agency from 1977-78 to 1988-89 was as under :

Year	Total ex- penditure (Rupees in lakhs)	Share of	Total number of beneficia-ries	Number of SC/ST benefici- aries	Total loan distributed (Rupees in lakhs)	Share of SC/ST (Rupees in lakhs)
1977-78	19.95	5.02	2,772	943	61.02	12.60
1978-79	18.01	5.81	2,769	1,133	51.09	21.54
1979-80	19.53	3.24	3,587	481	30.67	9.40
1980-81	40.70	8.38	3,758	825	57.65	19.15
1981-82	70.01	22.56	8,928	2,754	135.22	69.12
1982-83	91.06	39.14	7,858	3,640	176.06	81.19
1983-84	68.78	31.84	5,831	3,550	125.39	65.27
1984-85	84.60	40.21	7,042	4,020	151.45	79.32
1985-86	58.35	26.39	6,298	2,955	138.13	64.80
1986-87	85.30	48.02	7.199	4,006	107.31	72.11
1987-88	56.61	35.14	6,750	4,222	158.51	98.87
1988-89	61.02	32.12	5,887	3,477	137.01	75.70

(Source : Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency, Bathinda)

(vii) Agricultural Co-operatives

Co-operatives have played a major role in the supply of finance to the agriculture sector for the development of land, irrigation system and for its mechanization. To fit them for this role, structural changes have been made in the co-operative movement and procedures have been modified to link credit with production on the one hand and with supplies and marketing on the other. Co-operative Movement in India was introduced as a sequel to the rural indebtedness and the first legislation on the issue was the Co-operative Societies Act, 1904, which enabled the organization of agricultural credit co-operative in the rural areas. Main stress was laid on the rural credit rather than on urban credit in view of the greater importance of the rural economy in India. There was rapid growth in the number and activities of the co-operative credit societies from 1906 to 1911. During this period, the Government realized some of the shortcomings of the Act of 1904. The Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 was, therefore passed which recognized three tier system of co-operatives including two types of central societies in addition to the primary societies recognized by the Act of 1904. The Act recognized non-credit societies also. But the rural credit societies continued to be predominant in the co-operatives structure.

The agricultural co-operative credit in Punjab is divided mainly in two sectors, one dealing with the short-term and medium-term credit and the other with the long-term credit. The short and medium-term credit in the State is based on a three-tier system, i.e. the Apex Co-operative Banks at the State level, the Central Co-operative Banks at the district/tahsil level, and the Co-operative Agricultural Service Societies at the village level. The long-term credit is awarded from the Punjab State Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank at the Apex and the Primary Co-operative Land Mortgage Banks at the district/tahsil level.

(i) Co-operative Agricultural Service Societies. – The co-operative agricultural service society is the mainstay of the co-operative movement, which exists at the operational level. These societies play an important role in meeting the credit the credit requirements of the farmers for fertilizers and other agricultural inputs. Earlier for their financial requirements, the farmers had to go to the village money-lender, who charged exorbitant rate of interest. Now these societies provide finance to its members under their borrowing limits at their door steps at a reasonable rate of interest.

The major objectives of the agricultural service societies are supply of agricultural credit, distribution of essential consumer commodities, provision of storage and marketing facilities and provision of credit for light agricultural implements and machinery.

The following table shows the loans advanced by the Co-operative Agricultural Service Societies alongwith their membership, share capital, deposits, etc. in the Bathinda District during 1977-78 to 1988-89 :-

Year	No. of Societies	Membership	Share capital (Rs in lakhs)	Loan advan- ced during the year (Rs in lakhs)	Deposits (Rs in lakhs)
1977-78	536	88,520	97.03	546.13	18.99
1978-79	144*	91,376	132.90	841.58	22.62
1979-80	150	96,285	168.09	1,487.94	26.22
1980-81	148	1,00,464	211.35	1,532.46	23.12
1981-82	148	1,05,073	245.45	1,825.38	36.51
1982-83	213	1,11,033	286.94	2,426.92	33.51
1983-84	233	1,11,745	300.40	1,729.58	31.22
1984-85	233	1,12,123	331.07	2,110.80	35.75
1985-86	233	1,33,484	370.29	1,977.67	32.45
1986-87	233	1,14,496	401.15	1,997.67	42.08
1987-88	297	1,15,029	442.64	2,698.66	52.52
1988-89	297	1,16,904	461.08	2,791.02	63.83

(Source : Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bathinda)

* The number of Societies decreased due to the reorganization of the Primary Co-operative Agricultural Credit/Service Societies into Agricultural Service Societies.

(2) Central Co-operative Bank. – The Central Co-operative Bank is functioning in the district at Bathinda. It has a network of 46 branches all over the district. The main activities of this bank are; raising of deposits of loans to its member co-operative societies. The following table shows the deposits held by this bank in Bathinda during 1977-78 to 1988-89 :-

Year	Deposits (Rs in lakhs)
1977-78	35,513
1978-79	43,548
1979-80	55,861
1980-81	53,847
1981-82	57,108
1982-83	59,815
1983-84	58,745
1984-85	83,884
1985-86	1,09,684
1986-87	1,34,893
1987-88	2,38,326
1988-89	2,25,522

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1985 and Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bathinda)

(3) Primary-Co-operative Land Mortgage Banks. – To meet the requirements of long-term loans of the farmers, the Punjab State Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank Ltd., was registered as a co-operative society on 26 February 1958*. In order to take the institution closer to the farmers, Primary Land Co-operative Banks have been registered at district/tahsil headquarters.

* The nomenclature has changed to ‘The Punjab State Co-operative Agricultural development Bank’ w.e.f. 29 April 1986

The Land Mortgage Bank advances loans to the Primary Co-operative Land Mortgage Banks and these banks further advance loans to their members falling under their jurisdiction. The Primary Co-operative Land Mortgage Bank advances loan to the individuals and societies for installation of tube-wells, purchase of tractors and agricultural machinery, redemption of mortgaged land, purchase of land and land leveling etc.

There are 4 Primary Co-operative Land Mortgage Banks functioning in the district, one each at Bathinda, Mansa, Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul. The following table shows the long-term loans advanced by these banks alongwith their membership in Bathinda District, during 1977-78 to 1988-89 :-

Year	Membership	Loan advanced
1977-78	19,927	320.00
1978-79	21,917	389.00
1979-80	23,571	382.77
1980-81	26,717	498.77
1981-82	28,872	559.94
1982-83	30,433	---
1983-84	32,260	624.35
1984-85	34,605	575.35
1985-86	35,564	443.38
1986-87	40,650	859.34
1987-88	42,726	695.15
1988-89	44,046	593.18

(Source : Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bathinda)

(4) Co-operative Agricultural Non-Credit Societies. – Formed under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, these societies are set up for the purpose of agricultural requirements like machinery, agricultural implements, fertilizer, manure and improved seeds, for sale of agricultural produce, for insurance of crops, cattle, for purposes of cattle-breeding and promoting better farming and better living. During 1988-89, the number of agricultural non-credit societies in the district was 85.

Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Societies

Marketing Co-operatives of primary producers have been organized in all the regulated markets of the district. Besides, functioning as commission agents in the markets for marketing of produce of the area, these societies also purchase wheat and other commodities for the Government whenever required. With a view to aiding supply and marketing operations, the co-operatives are encouraged to acquire their own godowns. Apart from ordinary godowns, storage facilities are also being provided by the co-operative societies to their members in the shape of cold stores.

At the State level, there is the Punjab State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation (MARKFED), wholesale societies at the district level and marketing societies at the primary level.

The number of co-operative societies and their membership, value of goods marketed, etc. from 1977-78 to 1988-89 in the Bathinda District was as under :

Year	No. of Societies	Membership	Share Capital (Rs in lakhs)	Working capital (Rs in lakhs)	Value of goods marketed (Rs in lakhs)
1977-78	11	6,973	6.56	178.48	362.55
1978-79	11	7,176	6.28	246.57	498.70
1979-80	11	7,180	6.87	166.71	55.55
1980-81	11	7,180	6.87	166.40	517.12
1981-82	11	7,182	6.87	192.01	533.62
1982-83	11	7,445	8.08	184.21	647.78
1983-84	11	7,445	8.08	184.21	640.78
1984-85	18	7,445	8.03	163.21	905.91
1985-86	18	7,467	7.81	180.13	27.61
1986-87	18	7,479	9.69	226.65	33.26
1987-88	18	7,479	9.79	150.90	36.55
1988-89	18	7.554	8.85	154.70	1,006.49

(Source: Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies Bathinda)

Co-operative Farming Societies

The aim of the co-operative farming is to pool together the fragmented and uneconomic holdings so that they become big farming units and the farmers are able to exploit the economies of large-scale farming. Its aims have been defined in the Draft outline of the First Five-Year Plan. “Workers engaged in the same type of work whether they are owners or non-owners, will receive remuneration on the same principle, so that the landless Labourers’ position in the society will begin to change.”¹

¹ Indian Government Planning Commission, The First Five-Year Plan, A draft outline (New Delhi) 1951, p. 101

The number and membership of co-operative farming societies from 1977-78 to 1988-89, the district was as under :

Year	No. of Societies	Membership	Share Capital
1977-78	27	575	2.58
1978-79	27	575	2.58
1979-80	27	575	2.58
1980-81	27	575	2.58
1981-82	27	575	2.58
1982-83	41	880	2.65
1983-84	41	880	2.65
1984-85	41	880	2.65
1985-86	41	880	2.65
1986-87	41	880	2.65
1987-88	41	880	2.65
1988-89	41	880	2.65

(Source : Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bathinda)

Other Societies

In addition to the societies discussed above, there are a number of co-operative societies in other agricultural and allied fields. The following table shows their number during the year 1988-89 :-

S.No.	Type of Society	Number
1	Primary Marketing Societies	18
2	Primary Agricultural Service Societies	288
3	Milk Supply and Dairy Societies	408
4	Housing Societies	189
5	Joint Farming and Collective Farming	35
6	Labour and Construction Societies	126
7	Non-Agricultural Credit Societies	78
8	Industrial Societies	432
9	Women Industrial Societies	6
10	Women Thrift and Credit Societies	37
11	Poultry Societies	65
12	Transport Societies	10
13	Non-Agricultural and Non-Credit Societies	7
14	Other Societies	644

(Source : Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bathinda)

(viii) Progress of Scientific Agriculture

There is enormous scope of scientific cultivation in the district. Agricultural production can be increased by either extensive cultivation or intensive cultivation. Extensive cultivation is possible by bringing larger areas under cultivation by claiming waste lands, fallow lands, etc. Intensive cultivation consists of applying scientific methods in cultivation, provision of better seeds evolved through agricultural research, and use of improved implements, chemical fertilizers, etc. A few of these are detailed below :

Agricultural Implements. – The use of improved agricultural implements and machinery helps the farmers in timely performance of various agricultural operations by saving time. Mechanization cuts down labor costs and facilities multiple cropping and intensive cultivation. The use of old implements has mostly become outdated. The Persian wheels are being replaced by tube-wells and pumping-sets. The traditional system of threshing wheat under the feet of bullocks has completely been machines like seed-drills, seed-cum-fertilizer-drills, corn planters, etc. However, improved agricultural corn planters, etc. However, improved agricultural implements, viz. iron plough, combine harvesters for wheat and paddy etc. are getting very popular. There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of tractors in the district. There were only 2,754 tractors in the district in 1972. The figure rose to 14,735 in 1984-85 and further to 30,007 in 1988-89.

Soil Testing. – These are three soil testing laboratories in the district, one each at Bathinda, Mansa and Rampura Phul. Each laboratory tests around 10,000 water and soil samples every year. Soil testing is undertaken in I.R.D.P. (Integrated Rural Development Programme) village on priority basis. For economic use of costly fertilizer, it is essential that soil is got tested. Soil samples are taken by the field staff before hand. Soil testing facilities are available free of cost in each block.

The sub-soil water of this district is not fit for irrigation. Moreover, water logging has created serious problems to reclaim the kallar area. The department gives 75 per cent subsidy to reclaim the area. The consumption of gypsum, during 1981-82 to 1988-89, is given below :

Year	Metric tonnes
1981-82	20,616
1982-83	18,466
1983-84	16,010
1984-85	9,322
1985-86	16,520
1986-87	5,009
1987-88	11,851
1988-89	15,775

(Source : Director of Agriculture, Punjab, Chandigarh)

Seeds. – One of the basic inputs for increasing output per unit of area is the use of certified, quality seeds of high yielding varieties. For the production and supply of improved seeds, Punjab State Seeds Corporation has been set up. It also propagates amongst the farmers the benefits of using quality seeds. Further the Seed Certification Authority, an autonomous body, has been established for certification of quality seeds. Besides, many other schemes have been implemented to provide improved seeds, seedlings and plants which give higher yield and better quality produce. The private agencies and the National Seeds Corporation also assist the farmers in the supply and distribution of various types of seeds.

The Punjab Improved Seeds and Seedlings Act, 1950, provides for the use of pure seeds and seedlings recommended by the Department of Agriculture and makes it incumbent on cultivators in any notified area to use only improved varieties of seeds stored by authorized agents.

Crop Rotation. – The rotation of crops is adopted by the farmers to increase the fertility of the soil by leaving the land fallow and adopting mixed cropping. Suitable crop rotations thus help in maintaining the soil fertility. Besides, crop rotation differs according to different type of soils/areas and other prevailing conditions. In the case of sandy loam soil rotation followed are groundnut-wheat maize-wheat, cotton-wheat, kharif fodder-wheat, etc. If the soil is clay loam, the crop rotations being followed are paddy-wheat, kharif fodder-wheat, etc. If the soil is saline and alkaline, the main crop rotations being followed are green manuring paddy-wheat.

In addition to the above given rotations, vegetables followed by vegetables rotation is also followed in clay loam soil and to some extent in all the remaining type of soils except saline and alkaline soils.

Fallow Cultivation. – The cultivation of land which was left fallow in the past for gaining fertility is called fallow cultivation. However, with the progress of scientific methods of cultivation, availability of irrigation facilities, good manuring and judicious rotation of crops, etc., this practice is not being adopted in Bathinda District. In 1988-89, the fallow land in the district was only 1,000 hectares.

Fertilizers and Manures. – It is a well recognized fact that different crops, while growing, remove various plant nutrients in substantial quantity from the soil. The continued deterioration of the plant food elements from the soil leads to low fertility and lower agricultural yield. It is, therefore, essential that plant nutrients are replenished through the increased use of chemical fertilizer, micro nutrients and manures so that the crops continue to give good yields.

Chemical Fertilizers

The New H.Y.V’s can absorb high doses of chemical fertilizers and give higher yields. Nitrogen phosphorus and potassium are important elements and are required in large quantities by these crops. These elements are mostly deficient in soils. Therefore, concentrated fertilizers of each of these nutrients as well as mixtures of single nutrient fertilizers are manufactured and applied to the soil to raise the fertility of the land. The use of chemical fertilizers increased from 37,000 nutrients tonnes in 1977-78 to 84,000 nutrients tonnes in 1988-89 in the district.

The following table shows the use of chemical fertilizers in the district, during 1977-78 to 1988-89 :-

Year	Nitrogen (N)	Phosphatic (P O) 2.5	Potassic (K O ) 2	Total (NPK) (‘000’ Nutrients tonnes)
1977-78	28	7	2	37
1978-79	31	10	2	43
1979-80	32	11	1	44
1980-81	38	14	1	53
1981-82	40	15	1	56
1982-83	45	16	1	62
1983-84	50	18	1	69
1984-85	54	20	--	74
1985-86	57	23	--	80
1986-87	64	26	--	90
1987-88	57	25	1	83
1988-89	66	21	2	89

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1978 to 1989)

The cropping intensity in the district increased from 129 per cent in 1977-78 to 166 per cent in 1988-89. Due to increase in the intensity of cropping per unit of area, the deficiency of micro-nutrients has started appearing. Zinc deficient areas have been identified in the district and large-scale demonstration in these areas for application of zinc sulphate are arranged to create awareness amongst the farmers. The farmers of the district have become conscious of the bad effects of the depletion of micro-nutrients and started the use of zinc sulphate.

Local Manurial Resources

Rural Compost and Cattle Dung Manure. – Farm yard manure or cattle dung manure is an alround good measure for the maintenance and improving of the soil fertility. However, the farm yard manure commonly used by the cultivators is poor both in quality and quantity. This is largely due to faulty method of its preparation and incomplete utilization of the useful ingredients contained in cattle dung. In context of emphasis on high yielding varieties programme, it has been inevitable that larger quantities of good manure are produced in the villages. In view of the importance of this manure, the Government has launched a campaign to make the best use of farm yard manure and other wastes. The East Punjab Conservation of Manures Act, 1949 (amended in 1950) provides for the setting up of manure conservation committees and empowers the State Government to notify particular areas for the purpose of conserving manure and makes it incumbent on cultivators to take such measures as may be necessary for the purpose. The rural compost scheme was made permanent in the State in October 1966.

The rural compost prepared in the district during the last five years, i.e. from 1977-78 to 1988-89, is given below :

Year	Rural Compost prepared (in metric tonnes)
1977-78	3,76,350
1978-79	4,04,412
1979-80	4,03,206
1980-81	4,37,136
1981-82	8,51,759
1982-83	15,40,000
1983-84	17,64,500
1984-85	15,43,000
1985-86	18,00,000
1986-87	9,26,692
1987-88	12,50,000
1988-89	12,70,000

(Source : Field Manure Officer, Punjab, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar)

Green Manuring. – Green manuring is very important for soil fertility as it directly adds nitrogen to the soil. It also improves the soil texture by the addition of human or organic matter. The addition of the organic matter improves both heavy and sandy soils, for it has a binding effect on the loose particles of sandy soil and makes the tough and heavy soil less heavy. The water-holding capacity of the soil is also increased. In the Bathinda District, the crops generally used for green manuring are guara, dhaincha, saun-hemp, senji and berseem.

The extension of Green Manuring Scheme was introduced in the State in April 1961. It aims at popularizing the use of green manure in the State. The following table shows the area under green manuring crops in the district, during 1977-78 to 1988-89 :-

Year	Area under green manuring (in hectares)
1977-78	5,590
1978-79	5,346
1979-80	6,487
1980-81	4,540
1981-82	8,704
1982-83	24,000
1983-84	22,200
1984-85	22,000
1985-86	25,500
1986-87	18,389
1987-88	11,400
1988-89	4,000

(Source : Field Manure Officer, Punjab, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar)

Town Compost and Sullage Utilization

Town Compost. – Another important source from which large quantity of manure could be obtained is the refuse of urban areas. The composting of the urban waste has been recognized all over the world as a sound system for its disposal from the point of view of sanitation as well as supply of rich organic matter. The refuse available in the town, i.e. all sorts of waste organic matter such as cattle dung, house refuse, leaves of trees, and night-soil are a potential source of good quality compost. The Town Compost Scheme was introduced in the State in 1944. Under the scheme, all town waste are collected and allowed to decompose in various trenches. Almost all the municipalities in the district have taken up the work of composting of urban waste. The quantity of town compost prepared in the district, during 1977-78 to 1988-89 is given below :

Year	Town/Urban compost prepared (in metric tonnes)
1977-78	22,309
1978-79	17,313
1979-80	16,563
1980-81	17,715
1981-82	17,655
1982-83	2,565
1983-84	2,752
1984-85	3,699
1985-86	2,379
1986-87	3,352
1987-88	4,980
1988-89	4,363

(Source : Field Manure Officer, Punjab, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar)

Sullage Utilization. – The water as well as the plant nutrients and organic matter supplied by sewerage or sullage is highly useful for almost all crops. It is easily available for fields in the vicinity of town.

(ix) Agricultural Insect-Pests and Diseases and obnoxious Weeds.

Insect-Pests and Diseases. – Agricultural production can be increased with the protection of crops from pests and diseases. Due to rise in intensity of cropping, incidence of disease has increased. To face the problem of rising pests and insect infection, the State Government is supplying pesticides/insecticides to the farmers on ‘no profit no loss’ basis, besides providing technical guidance and plant protection equipment on hire basis. In addition to this, aerial spraying facilities are also provided to the farmers. The plant protection squads in the blocks help the farmers to combat the pest menace. For controlling the seed-born diseases and improving the germination of some crops, seed-treatment is being undertaken extensively.

The following are the major pests and diseases which damage crops, vegetables and fruits in the district :-

Crop Pests and Diseases

Wheat Loose smut, Ear Cokle, Brown rust, Karnal bunt,

Termites

Gram Bilt, Gram bligh, Pot borer

Barely Loose and covered smuts, Rust, Aphid and Termites

Sarson Phyllody, White rust, Alterneria bligh, Downy

mildew, Mustard aphid, Mustard sawfly

Cotton Angular leaf spot, Bacterial blight, Root rot,

Anthracnose, Thrip, Jassid, Pink boll worm, Spotted boll worm, Heliothis

Paddy Bacterial Blight, Leaf hoppers

Maize Maize borer

Sugarcane Redrot, Borers, Phyrilla, Black hug

Bajra Ergot

Kharif pulses Mosaic, Whitefly, Borers

Fruit and Diseases

Citrus Citrus canker, Scab, Gummosis, Anthracnose,

Citrus psylla, Citrus leaf minor, Whitefly and mite

Ber Powdery mildew, Lead mould & leaf spot, Fruit fly, Catter pillar and Lae insect

Grapes Anthracnose, Cercospora, Leaf spot, Collar rot,

Powder mildew, Water berry, Grapvine thrip, Yellow & red Wasp, Leaf roller

Cucurbits Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, Collar rot, Alternasia blight, Red phumphin betle, Aphid and Jassid, Fruit fly, Spidermite

Vegetables Pests and Diseases

Bhindi Yellow vein, Musaic, Damping off, Jassid, Aphid

bollworms and Spider mite

Tomato Early blight, Leafcurl, Roothnit, Jassid, Tobacco

caterpillar, Root Knit

Chilli Fruit rot, Leaf curlvirus and Musaic, Termite, Thrips, Mites, Whitefly

Brinjal Little leaf virus, Phomosis blight, Jassid, Hadda bettle borers, Spider mites

Store Grain Pests

1. Kharpra Bettle

2. Rice Weevil

3. Susri

3. Gram Dhora

Miscellaneous Pests

1. Rats

2. Sparrows

3. Parrots

Obnoxious Weeds. – With the increase of multiple cropping and higher inputs, weeds have become a problem. Farmers have largely adopted 'Machett', an effective weedicide for the rice crop. Control of weeds in wheat crop has been made with the help of 'Tribunal', a more effective weedicide introduced in recent years.

Research Stations. – There is only one research station in the district, i.e. Fruit Research Station of P.A.U. Ludhiana at Bathinda. It conducts trial regarding scientific fruit cultivation and also raises nurseries of different fruits for distribution among the farmers. The scientists of university research station organize training camps and field visits also. There is one fruit nursery at Rampura Phul run by the Department of Horticulture which caters to the need of the fruit growers of the district. There are two seed farms of the department at Talwandi Sabo and Sheikhpura which serve as demonstration centres for the farmers of the district and also produce quality seeds. There is no agricultural college in the district. Agricultural shows are organized at the district/block level. Training camps are very helpful in transferring the scientific technology to the farmers.

(d) Animal Husbandry, Poultry and Fisheries

The livestock plays an important role in the economy of the district. The essential equipment of the farmer includes a pair of oxen to do the ploughing and to draw his cart. They are keystone in farming. When the State is passing through green revolution, there is a greater need to produce more milk, eggs and wool to cope with the growing needs of the population. This is being done through introduction of large-scale cross breeding programme in the State and improved feeding management practices and control of the contagious diseases.

The following table shows the number of livestock in the district from 1966 to 1977 :-

Particulars	(hundreds) 1966	(hundreds) 1972	(thousands) 1977
Livestock	*7,178	9,488	987.3
Cattle	2,238	2,665	245.4
Buffaloes	2,317	2,775	273.8
Horse and Ponies	15	16	76.6
Donkey	54	66	4.8
Mules	1	2	0.5
Sheep	1,075	962	129.9
Goats	1,133	1,089	108.1
Camels	336	379	37.7
Pigs	10	17	4.2
Poultry	927	1,517	175.3

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1972, 1979 and 1982)

* Figures of Faridkot Tahsil of Faridkot District are included.

(i) Animal Health Wing and Animal Breeding Wing

At the district level, the Animal Husbandry Department is under the control of Project Officer, intensive Cattle Development Project, Bahtinda. It consists of two wings, i.e. Animal Health Wing and Animal Breeding Wing. The work of Animal Health Wing is looked after by the District Animal Husbandry Officer and the Deputy Director Animal Husbandry, Bathinda is responsible for the working of Breeding wing. They are assisted by 44 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, 2 Animal Husbandry Assistants, besides Class III and Class IV staff.

Animal Health Wing. – The main activities of Health Wing are : to treat animals for surgical incidences and against systematic disturbances to publicize hygienic milk production; to organize farmer's training camps; to ensure hygienic met supply; to deal with the vetero-legal cases; to regulate the supply of rice polish for poultry; to attend to contagious diseases and goat raising; and to keep a look on cattle fairs and cattle export, etc. These activities are carried out through 55 veterinary hospitals and 47 permanent outlaying veterinary dispensaries in the district.

Animal Breeding Wing. – The activities of the Breeding Wing relate to the improvement of cattle breed in the district. Cattle breeding programme is being implemented through artificial insemination centres/units, key village units and Intensive Cattle Development Projects. Frozen semen of exotic Brown Swiss breed from Switzerland is being used in the veterinary institutions of this district. Apart from this, the main activities of the Breeding Wing are; to keep up the breeding efficiency of bulls; to procure semen from bulls and supply it to the key village units for artificial insemination; to organize camps for increasing the production and efficiency of cows and buffaloes; to hold camps for calf health; to organize calf rally in villages; and to propagate enhanced high quality fodder production. The activities are carried through the Artificial insemination Centre, Budhlada under the charge of a trained Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and 15 Key Village Units and 23 Intensive Cattle Development Projects Units under the charge of trained Stock Assistants.

The regional semen bank was established in the district in 1976 at Bathinda. One liquid nitrogen plant has been functioning in it. It has been producing liquid nitrogen to 95 frozen semen units of this district. In addition to this, 123 institutions of Faridkot and Firozpur districts are also being supplied with liquid nitrogen. Frozen semen straws of cows and buffaloes are being collected from the semen banks of Nabha and Patiala where the bulls of exotic breeds are kept.

The Key Village Units/Intensive Cattle Development Project Units functioning in the district, as on 31 March 1989, are given below :

________________________________________________________________________

Key Units I.C.D.P. Units

Village

________________________________________________________________________

1. Sardargarh 1. Jassi Pau Wali

2. Multama 2. Jhumbo Bhai Ke

3. Sivian 3. Bahoyatri

4. Bhokhra 4. Malwala

5. Jeda 5. Bangi Ruldu Singh

6. Deon 6. Jassi Bagwali

7. Sirye Wala 7. Sema

8. Poohli 8. Bibiwala

9. Datewas 9. Tungwali

10. Borewal 10. Gobindpura

11. Tahlian 11. Aklia Jalal

12. Rangrial 12. Kesar Singh Wala

13. Dodra 13. Dyalpura Mirja

14. Khuda 14. Gumti Kalan

15. Kalloh 15. Salabatpura

16. Jekhuke

17. Nangal Kala

18. Atla Kalan

19. Kheve Khurd

20. Sangreri

21. Gurna Kalan

22. Ahmadpur

23. Alampur Mandran

24. Bodhipur

________________________________________________________________________

Development of Gaushalas

This scheme was introduced in the Punjab during 1956-57. At present, there are 11 gaushalas in the district, on each at Bathinda, Baretta, Budhlada, Mansa, Alike, Rampura Phul, Maur, Raman Mandi, Talwandi Sabo, Bucho Mandi and Goniana.

Cattle Fairs and Shows

Among the cattle fairs held in the Punjab, the cattle fair of Bathinda proper is the most important which is held daily. These fairs serve a very useful purpose by bringing the buyers and sellers of the cattle in direct touch with each other. Cattle of good quality are also kept for demonstration. In some important fairs, prizes are awarded to the owners who bring good quality cattle in the fair. The Government gets revenue from the sale and purchase of the cattle. In 1967, the Punjab Government nationalized the cattle fairs throughout the State by promulgating the Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Ordinance, subsequently replaced by the Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Act of 1968. In each district, a Cattle Fair Officer with necessary supporting staff organizes cattle fairs. In Bathinda District, cattle fairs and shows are held at Bathinda, Mana, Baretta, Maur, Rama, Budhlada, Bhai Rupa, Goniana and Kot Fateh.

Castration

The reproductive ability of scrub and inferior bulls is controlled by means of castration. Breeding through such bulls causes deterioration in the genetic potential of the progeny. The Animal Husbandry Department has been making efforts for the elimination of undesirable male calves through castration to improve the livestock. Keeping this in view, 1,305 cattle were castrated in Bathinda district during 1988-89.

Control of Menace of Wild and Stray Cattle. – The wild and stray cattle cause a great damage to the crops. In order to control this menace, a scheme for the rounding up of wild and stray cattle as well as for their disposal, known as Wild and Stray Cattle Catching Scheme, was launched in the State in 1962-63. Under the scheme, cattle catching parties have been organized to round up wild and stray cattle. Under the scheme, cattle catching parties have been organized to round up wild and stray cattle. Upto 1988-89, 218 wild and stray cattle were caught from the district.

Contents Next