According to the Director, Land Records, Punjab, the total area of the district as per village papers during 1992-93 was 577 thousand hectares and about 79 per cent of the land was under cultivation. The details of the land classified under the various categories of utilization is given as under:

Forests – Area under forests includes actually forested areas of the land, classed or administration as forests under legal enactment dealing with forest whether State owned or private, whether wooded or maintained as potential forest land. The area of crops raised in the forest and grazing lands or areas open for grazing within the forest is included in the forest area. The area under forests in the district during 1992-93 was about 11,000 hectares.

Area under Non-agricultural uses – This includes all lands occupied by buildings road railways or underwater, rivers and canals and other lands put to uses other than agriculture. The total area of land under this category in the district during 1992-93 was 45,000 hectares.

Barren and Unculturable land – This covers all barren and unculturable land like mountains, deserts, etc. which cannot be brought under cultivation except at an exorbitant cost. The total area of land under this category in the district during 1992-93 was 30,000 hectares.

Culturable Waste Land – This includes lands available for cultivation whether not taken-up for cultivation or taken-up for cultivation once but not cultivated during the current year and the last five years or more in succession for one reason or the other. Such lands may be either fallow or covered with shrubs and jungles, which are not put to any use. They may be assessed or unassessed and may lie in isolated blocks or within cultivated for five years on succession is included in this category at the end of the five years.

Fallow Land other than Current Fallow -- This includes al lands which were taken-up for cultivation out are temporarily out of cultivation for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years, the reasons for keeping such lands fallow may be:

Poverty of the cultivators of inadequate supply of water or malarial climate or silting of canals and rivers; or unremunerative nature of farming.

The area under this category in the district during 1992-93 was 6,000 hectares.

Current Fallow – This represents cropped area which are kept fallow during the current year. The total area under current fallows during 1992-93 in the district was 27,000 hectares.

Net Area Sown – This includes the total area actually sown with crops and orchards during the year. The net area sown in the district during 1992-93 was 458 thousand hectares.

Area Sown More Than Once –This represents the areas on which crops are cultivated more than once during the agriculture year. Such area in the Faridkot District during 1992-93 was thousand hectares.

Land Holdings – Operational holdings refer to all land used wholly or partly for agricultural production as one technical unit by the same person or persons. Faridkot District had 1,07,075 operational holdings as per agricultural Census of 1990. The total area operated by these holdings in the district was 4,81,652 hectares. It ranked fourth in the State, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ludhiana districts being first, second and third respectively, the following table shows the number of operational holdings by size groups, area covered and percentage to the total area in the Faridkot District during 1990-91: -

Size in hectares	No. of operational holdings	Area (hectares)	Percentage to total area
0-0.5	16,258	6,914	1.43
0.5-1.0	15,508	14,863	3.09
1.0-2.0	17,461	30,875	6.41
2.0-3.0	11,692	32,805	6.66
3.0-4.0	8,390	29,405	6.11
4.0-5.0	9,540	43.113	8.95
5.0-7.5	11,109	78,163	16.23
7.5-10.00	6,439	63,087	13.10
10.00-20.00	8,522	1,32,169	27.44
20.00 and above	2,156	51,276	10.64
Total	1,07,075	4,81,652	100.00

(District Statistical Handbook of Faridkot, 1993 issued by Economic Advisor to Government, Punjab)

(iii) Reclamation of Waterlogged Area, Swamps, etc—No river flows through the district, but there is a vast network of canals. The irrigation by canals is a mixed blessing and suffers from serious defects. An abundant supply of water from canals for irrigation not only leads to wastage of water but also causes water logging and salt infestation in several areas especially on both sides of canals. Heavy rains during 1955 and 1958 also caused water logging on a large-scale in tahsil Moga. Water logging renders land unfit for cultivation. Besides, heavy rains. The more important of them are Danda Nala, Sota Nala and Moga nala, which serve as natural drains and channels, in the district. Water logging is a problem for the district and efforts and being made since 1963 to solve it. A number of drains known by the names of Golewala, Mudki, Langiana, Mari, Smadh Bhai, etc. had been dug to meet the problem of floods in the low lying areas in Faridkot District. The Water-table is menacingly rising particularly in and around Muktsar and Kot Kapura and currently engaging the attention of the Government.

The following table shows the area affected by Thur and Sem in the district during 1975-76. 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93:

Year	Thur	Sem	Total
1975-76	635	---	635
1980-81	843	147	990
1985-86	23	71	94
1986-87	23	71	94
1987-88	23	71	94
1988-89	23	71	94
1989-90	14	---	14
1990-91	14	---	14
1991-92	14	---	14
1992-93	14	---	14

(Source: Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Punjab)

(b) Irrigation

Water is the most important single requirement for the growth of plant. Crops can be raised successfully only if water is available in adequate quality either from rain or surface flow or underground. Rainfall in most parts of the country is confined mainly to the four rainy months of June to September. During the remaining months the water surface water resources. The need of applying irrigation for raising crops during non-rainy periods or when rains failed was felt even in the distant past. Artificial irrigation was practiced in India as far back as the fourth millennium B.C. With the growth of population and consequent need for larger agricultural production and consequent need for larger agricultural production, the requirement of irrigation has increased to a great extent. Irrigation is required not only in low rainfall areas and during non-rainy season but also during long breaks in rains in good rainfall areas. Modern research has highlighted the importance of adequate soil moisture. During the crucial stages of plant growth and in consequence of adequate irrigation facilities. The importance of irrigation to agriculture has become all the more important with the new farm technology based on high yielding varieties of crops and increased application of fertilizers.

(i) Rainfall – The rainy season in the district starts in the month of July and lasts till September. About 71 per cent of the annual rainfall in the district is received during these months. Some rainfall occurs during the pre-monsoon months mostly in the form of thunder-showers. In winter, rains are generally received in association with passing western disturbances from December to February. On an average there are 24 rainy days (days with a rainfall of 2.5 mm or more) in the year in the district.

(ii) Irrigation Facilities – Agriculture production and irrigation facilities are positively co-related. In adequate facilities are positively co-related. In of fields by artificial means for sowing and proper maturing of crops and ever for increasing their maturing of crops and even for increasing their yields. Irrigation has been given top priority in the country’s programme for planned development since 1951. The main sources of irrigation in the district are canals, wells and tube wells.

The following table shows the percentage of the gross area irrigated to the gross cropped area during 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93: -

(Thousand hectares)

Year	Gross cropped area	Gross irrigated area	Percentage
1975-76	723	615.8	85.2
1980-81	818	742.0	90.7
1985-86	873	829.2	95.0
1986-87	---	---	---
1987-88	858	831.0	96.9
1988-89	897	811.0	90.4
1989.90	896	868.5	96.9
1990-91	910	884.9	97.2
1991-92	908	892.9	98.3
1992-93	877	858.4	97.9

(Statistical abstracts of Punjab 1976, 1981, and 1986 to 1993)

The table given below shows the net area irrigated along with percentage to the net area sown by different sources of irrigation in the district during 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93:

(Thousand hectares)

Year	Govern- ment canals	Private canals	Tubewells and wells	Other sources	Total	Net area irrigated to net area sown
1975-76	332.6	----	102.9	----	435.5	82.8
1980-81	348.7	----	101.8	----	450.5	85.6
1985-86	391.7	----	90.2	----	481.9	91.6
1988-89	347.0	----	137.8	----	485.4	85.2
1989-90	359.1	----	146.7	----	505.8	96.2
1990-91	361.5	----	134.6	----	496.1	95.8
1991-92	338.9	----	155.2	----	494.1	98.2
1992-93	297.6	----	148.8	----	446.4	97.5

(Statistical abstracts of Punjab 1976, 1981, and 1986 to 1993)

Canals

The main source of irrigation in the Faridkot District is canals. The district receives water from the Sidhwan Canal and Abohar Branch of the Sirhind Canal. The Abohar Branch of Sirhind Canal was brought to the erstwhile Princely State of Faridkot in 1885. Sidhwan Canal was constructed in 1951-52.

The area irrigated by Abohar Branch and Sidhwan canal in Faridkot District during 1975-76. 1980-81, 1985-86 to 1992-93 is given to the following table: -

Area Irrigated
Year	Abohar branch of Sirhind Canal	Sidhwan Canal
1975-76	269	24
1980-81	296	25
1985-86	323	25
1986-87	323	25
1987-88	323	25
1988-89	323	27
1989-90	323	27
1990-91	342	28
1991-92	342	28
1992-93	342	27

(Source: Executive Engineer, Faridkot Canal Division, Faridkot and Executive Engineer, Sidhwan Canal Division, Ludhiana)

Wells (including Tube-wells and Pumping sets) – There was practically no irrigation from wells in the erstwhile princely State. Well water in the hither area was unsuitable for agricultural purposes whilst in the hither area the depth of water level was too great. However, wells did exist in the areas transferred from Ferozepur District i.e. Moga and Muktsar tahsils. But now next in importance to canals are tube-wells as a source of irrigation in the district. Irrigation by this source accounts for about 35 per cent of the total irrigated area in the district.

(i) Set up and activities of Agriculture Department

The Agricultural Department is represented Faridkot, who is under the administration control of director of Agriculture, Punjab, Chandigarh. The Chief Agricultural officer is overall in charge of the entire agricultural activities in the district. He guides the farmers in proper cultivation of land proper use of fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides and in arranging of seeds of good quality.

The Chief Agricultural Officer is assisted by 1 District Training Officer, 1 Deputy Director of Agriculture (Cotton), 17 Agricultural Officers. 85 Agricultural Development officers, 79 Agricultural Sub Inspectors, 2 Superintendents, 1 Statistical Officer, 1 Technical Assistant (Statistical), 90 Beldars, besides ministerial/technical Class III and IV staff.

The Agriculture Department guides the farmers in respect of sowing high yielding varieties, proper use of manures and fertilizers, sowing and irrigation times of crops and in controlling various pests and diseases affecting agricultural crops. It manages procurement of fertilizers and good seeds as well as laying out demonstration plots to bring home to the cultivators the superiority of varieties recommended for cultivation in the district.

A few extension methods to transfer to technology to the farmers by the Agriculture Department any other similar agencies are: agricultural show and exhibitions; by organizing training camp (at district, block and village level) during Kharif and rabi seasons; by arranging field visit to the r\farms of the progressive farmers; holding of kisan divas and kisan melas; laying of demonstration plots and minikits trials by exhibiting extension articles and T.V. talks; field visits; by issuing circular letters, bulletins and pamphlets and by personal contacts.

(ii) Set up and activities of Horticulture Department

Prior to May 1979 Horticulture Department was functioning under the control of the Chief Agricultural Officer, Faridkot. To diversify agriculture, a separate Department of Horticulture was created on 2 May 1979. From 1 August 1993, the Department has been functioning under the control of Deputy Director, Horticulture, Faridkot who is under the administration control of Director of Horticulture, Punjab, Chandigarh. The Deputy Director, Horticulture, 9 horticulture Development Officers, 1 Accountant, besides ministerial and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

The main functions of the Horticulture Department are to advise the farmers, regarding the planning and planting of orchards and to advise them regarding layout, spraying, manuring of the orchards. The Horticulture Department organizes seminars and shows regarding the horticultural activities in the district. The department also arranges visits to different districts and inter-state tours to popularize horticultural activities among the farmers.

There were two Government Gardens and Nurseries in the district during 1992-93. The brief details of these centres are given below:

Government Garden and Nursery, Faridkot – It is spread over an area on 22 acres. An area of 10 acres is under guava, kinnow and malta plants. An area of 9 acres is under nursery plants.

Government Garden and Nursery, Sarai Nanga – It is spread over an area of 30 acres. Out of this 12 acres are under pear, 8 acres under guava, 4 acres under ber, 1 acre under malta, 1 acre under kinnow and 3 acres under nursery plants.

(iii) Soils and Crops

Soils – The soils of the district are typical of southwestern region of the Punjab State as they represent soils developed on three landforms vis. alluvial terrace, interdunal areas and sand dunes. The soils developed on alluvial terraces are very deep excessively drained, calcareous, coarse loamly to fine in texture with loamy surface on nearly level slopes with slight salinity and sodicity. These soils are tentatively classified as ustochreptic Cambortnids and Typic ustochrepts. The soils developed on interdunal areas are very deep, moderately well drained calcareous, sandy to coarse loamy with sandy surfaces with slight salinity and moderate sodicity and moderate wind erosion. Similar to alluvial terrace group, these soils can also be classified as Typic ustochrepts. The soils developed on sand dunes are very deep, well drained, coarse loamy soils with sandy surface and moderate wind erosion. These soils are tentatively classified as Ustic Torripsamments.

Soils of the Faridkot district are low in available nitrogen. Therefore, these soils respond to nitrogen very well. The available phosphorus content of the soils ranges from low to high. The available potassium of the soil is medium to high and only few soils of this district are low in available potassium.

These soils are found to be deficient in available zinc (DTPA-Zn.) and iron and need zinc and iron application for obtaining god crop yields. These soils are sufficient in available copper and manganese.

The underground irrigation water of the district is marginal to poor quality. The blocks of Bagha Purana, Nihalsinghwala, Moga I and II show sodicity problem whereas in other blocks salinity along with sodicity is also a problem. Sodic water can be used by the addition of gypsum whereas saline waters may be used either on coarse textured soils or by mixing with canal water. The use of organic manures is beneficial where marginal quality or water is being used. The soils of the district are quite fit for the cultivation of cotton, wheat, rice, bajra, guara, gram and raya.

Quality of Underground Water – Most of the subsoil water is not fit for irrigation and falls under second category. Subsoil water may be utilized by mixing with canal water except in Moga I Block.

Major and Subsidiary Crops – There are two well-defined harvests in the district, rabi and kharif. The major rabi crops (locally called hari) or spring harvest are wheat, gram, barley, oilseeds, fodder crops, potatoes and winter vegetables. It is sown in October-December and harvested from mid-March to mid-May. The kanor harvest are rice, maize, cotton, pulses, bajra and vegetables like chillies, onions and gourd. It is sown in June-August and in reaped from early September to late December. Cotton is sown a little earlier, some crops come in between these two harvests. For example, toria matures late in December and is classes as Zaid (extra) Kharif. Similarly, melons are harvested late in June and are classed as Zaid (extra) rabi. Kinnow, grapes and ber are main fruits grown in the district.

As between the two main harvests, the area devoted to rabi crops is little more than that devoted to rabi crops is little more than that devoted to Kharif crops. The preponderance of rabi over kharif is due to the irrigation facilities. In the district, where land is dependent entirely on rains, kharif is the major harvest because rains occur mostly during the monsoon months.

The detailed description of different crops grown in the district as to their area and production for the appendix I and II at the end of this chapter on pages 176 to 179. The important Kharif and Rabi crops grown in the district are described below:

Wheat

It is the principal Rabi crop grown allover the district. The area under this crop has been going up as a result of the improvement in the irrigation facilities. In 1975-76, the area under wheat cultivation was 266 thousand hectares which went upto 334 thousand hectares in 1980-812. During 1992-93 wheat was grown on 357 thousand hectares and its production was to the tune of 1,244 thousand metric tones.

Paddy

It is a semi-aquatic plant, requiring an abundant supply of water for its growth. Its nursery is sown in May and June and is transplanted in the end of June of beginning of July. The area under paddy in the district was only 26 thousand hectares in 1975-76, which went upto 146 thousand hectares in 1985-86. The area under paddy during 192-93 was 140 thousand hectares. Similarly, the production of this crop was only 86 thousand metric tones during 1975-76, which increased to 479 thousand metric tones in 1985-86 and further to 547 thousand metric tones in 1992-93.

Bajra

It is not a very important crop of the district. The area under this crop is fast declining since 1985-86. The area under bajra in the district was only 0.7 thousand hectares during 1992-93, whereas it was 37 thousand hectares in 1975-76.

Maize

This too is not grown in the district, to any significant extent. The area under this crop also very negligible i.e. only 0.1 thousand hectares during 1992-93.

Cotton

This is the major and important Kharif crop of the district, Faridkot District is the largest producer of cotton in the State followed by Bathinda District. The soils and climate of these areas is very suitable for the growth of this crop. It is generally sown between April and May. Its harvesting time is October to December. Two types of cotton are cultivated in the district cotton desi and cotton (American). Area under cotton (American). Is much higher than the area under cotton desi because of its quality and yield. The area under cotton desi was 24.7 thousand hectares in 1975-76. It came down to 13.6 thousand hectares in 1980-81. It kept on declining in the subsequent years touching 9.3 thousand hectares in 1988-89. Thereafter the area under this crop showed an upward trend. It was 12.2 thousand hectares in 1991-92 and further increased to 13.2 thousand hectares in 1992-93.

The area under cotton (American) has been increasing since 1985-86 i.e. from 153. Its production has also gone up from 72.84 thousand metric tons in 1985-86 to 131.91 thousand metric tons in 1992-93.

Barley

Barley is another Rabi crop of the district. It is sown on light soils where wheat crop cannot give enough yield or when it becomes too late for sowing wheat crop due to shortage of water at the time of sowing. It is sown from middle of September to end of December either single or mixed with other crops. It can be used as a fodder. In 1975-76, an area of 23.8 thousand hectares was under this crop in the district which fell to 9.2 thousand hectares in 1992-93.

Pulses

The pulses grown in the district are mung, gram, arhar, moth and masar. The most important of them all is mung. Next pulse is importance in the district is gram which is grown as a rabi crop. In 1975-76, it was the major pulse crop but over the years, it has given way to mung. The area under gram in 1975-76 was 52 thousand hectares whereas area under mung during the same period was 0.9 thousand hectares. But in 1992-93, the area under mung crop was 12.9 thousand hectares and under gram was 2.3 thousand hectares.

Oil-seeds

Rape and mustard are the main oil-seeds grown in the district. Toria, linseed, sesamum and groundnut have either no or very little area under cultivation. The area under rape and mustard too has come down from 18.70 thousand hectares in 1975-76 to 5.8 thousand hectares in 1992-93.

Sugarcane

This too is not an important crop of the district. Vegetables various kinds of vitamins and minerals. In the Faridkot District, almost all kind of vegetables are grown but on limited area. So there is still ample scope for bringing more and more area under vegetables.

The following vegetables are grown in the district: -

Summer vegetables :	Lady finger (bhindi), bottle gourd (ghia kaddu), brinjal round and long (baingan), musk-melon goot-type (kharbuza), sponge-gourd (ghia), radgegourd (kali tori), water-malon (terbuz), chilies (mirch). Sweet potato (sharkarandi).
Winter vegetables :	Carrot (gajar) raddish (muli), turnip (shalgam), spinach (palac), onion (piaz), peas (matar), potato (alu), cauliflower (phul gobhi), carbages (band gobhi).

(iv) Improved Agricultural Practices

The rapid rise in the agricultural production since independence has been possible by the use of high yielding varieties of seeds, application of chemical fertilizers, adoption of multiple cropping pattern, use of insecticides and pesticides and other modern plant protection measures, use of modern mechanical agricultural implements and increase in the irrigation facilities. But the introduction of high yielding varieties (H.Y.V.) of seeds is the most important factor for raising the agricultural production.

(v) Farmers Training Camps

Farmers training camps are organized before the sowing of rabi and kharif crops. These play an important role in changing the attitude of the people to the agricultural development in the district. These camps are organized at the district level, block level and village level, to impart training to the farmers about the latest farm techniques. Efforts are also made in these camps to solve the problems faced by the farmers and assistance is rendered to them to use the latest package of agricultural practices so that they may get maximum yield from their crop. Every year more than two lakh farmers are given training.

(vi) District Rural Development Agency

It was established as ‘small Marginal Farmers and ‘Agricultural Labourers’ Agency. Its nomenclature was changed to ‘District Rural Development Agency’ with effect from 16 March 1981. 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 downtrodden 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 on the 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.

Under Integrated Rural Development Programme Scheme, the Agency helps the yellow card holders in getting loans upto Rs. 35,000 from the banks to start their own vocations.

(vii) Agricultural Co-operatives

The idea of using co-operatives in India as a means of combating rural indebtedness, supplying credit was first mooted by Mr Fredric Nicholson, a Madras civilian. In Punjab, efforts were also made by two Settlement Officers to induce the people to benefit themselves by co-operation. But all these attempts were, however, being made in an isolated and uncoordinated manner. The idea of co-operation got further impetus with the recommendation of Famine Commission of 1901, the Government of India approved a committee under Sir Edward Law after ascertaining the views of local governments on Mr. Nicholson’s report. Following the recommendations of the committee Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904 was passed. This act enabled the organization of agricultural credit co-operative in the rural areas. The main stress was laid on the rural credit rather than on urban credit in view of the greater importance of the rural economy in activities of the co-operative credit societies from 1906 to 1911. During this period, the government realized some of the shortcoming of the Act of 1904. The 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-operative structure.

The co-operative movement in the Punjab State which gained momentum in the early sixties after the passing the Punjab Co-operative Societies Act, 1961 has enabled the State in achieving overall growth and in raising the standard of living of the growth and in raising the standard of living of the people of the State. Though the movement was originally a credit movement but over a period of time, it has spread its wings to all walks of economic life. Almost al the farming families in the State has been covered by co-operatives in one form or the other.

Co-operative credit in the State has helped a great deal in bringing about green revolution and an era of prosperity. The co-operative credit structure in the State is divided into two broad categories-agricultural and non-agricultural. The agricultural credit is further divided into two categories, namely, short and medium term and long-term. Short and medium term agricultural credit is provided by three tier credit system consisting of primary co-operative agricultural service societies at the primary level, central co-operative banks at the Central level and Punjab State Co-operative Bank at the State level. Short and medium term loans are advanced for agricultural production and for activities allied to agriculture. The long-term credit needs of the farmers are met by the Punjab State Co-operative Agriculture Development Bank through primary Co-operative Agricultural Development Banks.

Primary Co-operative Agricultural Service Societies

These are the base of the co-operative movement. These societies play a vital role in meeting the credit requirements of the agriculturists and also in increasing the agricultural production. The primary co-operative agricultural service societies also supply agricultural inputs and essential commodities to their members.

The following table shows the loans advanced by the co-operative agricultural service societies along with their membership, share capital, deposits, etc. in the Faridkot district during 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86 to 1992-93: -

Cooperative year ending June	No. of co-operative societies at the end of year	Members	Share capital paid up	Loans advanced during the year (Rs) in (lakhs)	Deposits
1975-76	452	1,41,450	142.04	739.04	39.44
1980-81	362	1,42,976	319.00	3,196,35	52.07
1985-86	362	1,46,454	379.91	3,765.08	103.07
1986-87	362	1,57,101	388.84	3,496.04	116.04
1987-88	389	1,50,504	427.12	3,603.23	85.91
1988-89	389	1,49,214	442.48	2,980.02	94.05
1989-90	389	1,45,000	452.92	5,612.79	119.40
1990-91	389	1,57,072	659.24	6,216.82	201.04
1991-92	389	1,58,059	659.24	7,255.61	226.80
1992-93	389	1,57,898	659.24	8,375.39	222.39

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

Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Societies–Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Societies are formed to enable the farmers to get fair share of the value of their agricultural produce. The societies have been formed in almost all the regulated markets of the district. These societies function as the commission agents in the markets for marketing of the produce in the area. These societies also make purchases of wheat and other commodities for the Government whenever required. These societies, besides providing marketing facilities, also make arrangements for the storage of agricultural produce of the members. These societies are also encouraged to acquire their own godowns.

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 marketing societies and their membership, value of goods marketed, etc. during 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86 to 1992-93 in the Faridkot District was as under:

Co-operative year ending June	No. of societies	*Membership* Indivi- Socie- Duals ties		Total	Paid up share capital (Rs in lakhs)	Working capital (Rs in lakhs)	Value of goods market ed (Rs in lakhs)
1975-76	10	7,462	736	8,198	5.14	2.76	16.04
1980-81	11	8,293	736	9,029	6.76	3.82	47.62
1985-86	11	8,620	736	9,356	13.17	4.00	37.72
1986-87	11	8,633	736	9,369	11.13	2.95	35.78
1987-88	11	8,633	736	9,369	12.25	2.98	51.15
1988-89	11	8,676	736	9,412	12.56	4.91	85.77
1989-90	11	8,896	747	9,642	12.25	6.24	72.84
1990-91	11	8,895	747	9,642	12.25	6.82	61.34
1991-92	11	10,023	747	10,770	11.55	6.19	51.80
1992-93	11	10,023	747	10,770	12.65	6.26	45.90

(Source: Deputy Director, Co-operative societies, Faridkot)

Central Co-operative Bank – In the Faridkot District, central co-operative banks are functioning at Moga and Faridkot. The Central Co-operative Bank, Moga has a network of 30 branches and serves the entire Moga Tahsil whereas the Central Co-operative Bank, Faridkot serves the Faridkot and Muktsar tahsils (including Malaut Tahsil) through its 31 branches. The main activities of the Central co-operative bank are: to raise deposits from the member societies and the public, to advance loans to the member societies. The deposits held by the Central Co-operative Bank, Moga and Faridkot during 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 are given below:

Deposits (Rs in lakhs)
Year	Moga	Faridkot	Total
1975-76	249.10	213.86	462.96
1980-81	527.24	707.21	1,234.45
1985-86	1,097.79	922.87	2,020.66
1986-87	1,335.99	1,073.25	2,809.24
1987-88	1,662.14	1830.88	3,492.82
1988-89	1,954.00	2515.68	4,469.68
1989-90	2,413.34	2739.85	5,153.19
1990-91	2,731.24	3830.00	5,561.24
1991-92	2,775.39	3435.38	6,210.77
1992-93	3,276.11	3873.65	7,149.76

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

The primary Co-operative Agricultural Development Banks – These banks m the long-term loan requirements of the farmers for improvement of land and purchase of capital assets. These banks function in the district under the Punjab State Co-operative Agricultural Development Bank, Chandigarh.

The primary co-operative agricultural development banks are functioning in the district at Faridkot, Jaito, Moga, Nihalsinghwala, Muktsar, Malaut and Lambi. The Punjab Agricultural Co-operative Development Bank, Chandigarh advances loans to the primary co-operative Agricultural Development Bank and these further advance loans to their members. These banks advance loans to the individuals and societies for various purposes, such as installation of tube-wells, purchase of tractors and agricultural machinery; redemption of mortgaged land and purchase of land, etc.

Co-operative Agricultural Non-credit Societies

These societies are also formed under the co-operative societies Act, 1912. The main purpose of these societies is to m the agricultural requirements of the farmers, such as; agricultural implements, fertilizers, manures and improved seeds, sale of agricultural produce, insurance of crops and cattle, cattle breeding and promoting better farming and better living.

Number of co-operative agricultural non-credit societies functioning in the Faridkot District during 1975-76, 1980-81 to 1992-93 is given below:

Year	No. of societies
1975-76	148
1980-81	166
1985-86	172
1986-87	178
1987-88	182
1988-89	182
1989-90	178
1990-91	175
1991-92	172
1992-93	172

(Source: Deputy Registrar Co-operative Societies Faridkot)

Co-operative Farming Societies – The main aim of the co-operative farming societies is to pool together the fragmented and uneconomic holdings so that these may become big farming units and farmers may reap the benefit of large scale farming.

The details of co-operative farming societies functioning in the district during 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86 to 1992-93 are given below:

Year	No. of societies	Membership	Share capital (Rs in lakhs)	Working capital (Rs in lakhs)
1975-76	101	1,270	5.15	9.11
1980-81	168	2,023	7.77	20.98
1985-86	168	2,037	7.78	20.99
1986-87	168	2,037	7.78	20.99
1987-88	168	2,037	7.78	20.94
1988-89	168	2,037	7.78	20.93
1989-90	168	2,037	7.78	20.94
1990-91	168	2,037	7.78	20.94
1991-92	162	1,900	7.64	19.56
1992-93	153	1,795	7.46	16.08

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

Contents Next

	CONTENTS
F	Agriculture and Irrigation
F	Land Reclamation and Utilization
F	Irrigation
F	Agriculture and Horticulture
F	Animal Husbandry Poultry and Fisheries
F	Forestry
F	Floods
F	Famine

	Males	Females	Total
As cultivators	1,99,895	3,845	2,03,740
As agricultural labourers	1,52,435	10,799	1,63,234
Livestock, forestry, fishing, hunting, plantation, etc.	2,071	93	2,164
Total	3,54,401	14,737	3,69,138

Year	Annual rainfall	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	Septermber	October	November	December
1975	410.6	21.6	18.9	17.7	12.7	10.7	30.1	112.7	109.9	71.7	02.5	02.5	10.3
1980	511.4	11.2	04.0	26.2	07.3	---	23.3	263.1	96.5	45.7	18.2	06.6	09.3
1985	439.0	00.5	---	09.8	19.7	00.8	46.4	130.8	175.6	17.3	07.8	05.8	24.5
1986	775.4	38.9	40.5	26.0	12.9	16.1	60.9	228.0	202.0	115.3	14.2	3.9	16.7
1987	266.6	13.3	21.7	30.4	2.6	91.1	37.5	29.0	22.0	---	17.8	---	0.2
1988	614.9	0.5	23.3	35.2	0.3	2.0	17.9	119.2	135.9	260.6	---	1.6	18.4
1989	268.5	39.9	3.9	14.1	---	---	33.3	93.3	64.5	3.1	---	---	16.4
1990	567.8	0.7	46.4	7.9	---	5.7	14.2	166.2	187.5	119.1	---	107	18.4
1991	291.9	0.3	27.1	6.8	19.7	10.7	76.5	31.6	92.9	12.8	2.8	---	---
1992	349.4	28.3	14.7	4.6	---	4.8	27.2	109.8	121.1	30.6	---	8.3	---
1993	360.6	5.7	1.8	11.2	5.7	17.0	50.7	196.7	8.4	63.6	---	---	---

CHAPTER IV

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

Males

Total

1,99,895

1,52,435

2,071

3,54,401

(a) below 500 hactrares.

Canals

Wheat

Paddy

Bajra

Maize

S.No.	Particilars	1975-76	1980-81	1985-86	1986-87	1987-88	1988-89	1989-90	1990-91	1991-92	1992-93
1	Total area according to village papers	576	576	573	573	573	573	573	576	576	577
2	Forests	11	6	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11
3	Barren and unculturable land	---	---	36	36	---	---	---	---	---	30
4	Land put to non agriculture use	37	---	---	---	34	36	36	37	36	45
5	Culturable waste	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
6	Permanent pastures and other grazing land	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
7	Land under Misc tree crops and groves not included in net area sown	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
8	Current fallow	(a)	---	---	(a)	(a)	(a)	(a)	(a)	19	2-7
9	Fallow land other than current fallow	11	(a)	---	(a)	(a)	(a)	(a)	11	7	6
10	Net area sown	517	526	---	526	526	526	526	517	503	458
11	Area sown more than once	393	292	347	365	332	371	370	393	405	419
12	Total cropped area	920	818	873	891	858	897	896	910	908	877