(e)
Rehabilitation
The
partition of the country in 1947 brought untold miseries and turmoil to the
people on both sides of the Punjab (East Punjab in India and Western Punjab in
Pakistan). Unprecedented communal riots, arson and loot compelled the
minorities to migrate to the other side of the border. The non-muslim
minorities, mostly the Hindus and Sikhs of West Punjab, migrated to East Punjab
(India) whereas the Muslim population of the East Punjab (and of Sangrur
district) migrated to West Punjab (Pakistan). This unexpected event of colossal
magnitude created numerous problems for the Government. The migrants were
escorted safely up to the border and arrangements had been made to rehabilitate
the migrants from Pakistan temporarily or permanently. First of all, the
Government was to ensure their safe arrival, and arrangements were also to be
made for providing them with shelter, fol, clothing and medical aid. Since the
migrants were without belongings and money, the problems of rehabilitation was
further aggravated. The matter of prime importance was to find the places where
they were to be sheltered. They could not straightway be shifted to the villages,
as it was not possible to provide them with free rations. The pre-requisite for
making rehabilitation more effective was that they should be first concentrated
at a few particular places. After making arrangements for allotting lands and
creating avenues of employment or commercial facilities, they were to be could
not be arranged in a short time, the Government and private educational
institutions were closed for an indefinite period and were used for housing the
refugees. With a view to expediting rehabilitation, bit camps were also
established.
In
comparision with other districts of the State, the displaced persons did not
feel tempted to settle in Sangrur District for more than one reason. The land
holdings left by the Muslims were small, the district lacked adequate
industrial or commercial avenues, a large number of Muslims, especially from
Malerkotla proper did not shift to Pakistan, and as such there was not
sufficient evacuee land to rehabilitate a large number of refugees in the
district.
The
rehabilitation of the displaced persons was of three types, rehabilitation of
the school-goers, of agriculturists, and of those engaged in trade, commerce
and industry.
Educational
Facilities. – All
educational institutions in the State were closed from July 1947 to February
1948. Consequently, one academic year of the students admitted to these
institutions was lost. These institutions were reopened in March 1948 the
students were to be promoted to the next class. The next academic year was to
end in 1949. The students was granted fee concessions, and provided with
text-books, and the examination fees were subsequently refunded to them. The
college goers were granted stipends and loans to enable them to continue their
studies. All these arrangements were not sufficient to induce the displaced
children to continue their studies. Some parents could ill-afford even to feed
them as they themselves were living on free rations.
Rural Rehabilitation
Settlement
of Agriculturists. – The
description of land available in various tahsils of the district, for
quasi-permanent allotment to the displaced persons is given below:
|
Name of tahsil |
Nehri |
Chahi and abi |
Barani or Sailab |
Uncl-tivated |
Total |
|
|
|
|
(Standard Acres) |
||
|
Sangrur |
9,067 |
6,059 |
21,331 |
27,746 |
64,203 |
|
Barnala |
4,208 |
1,192 |
9,761 |
1,319 |
16,480 |
|
Malerkotla |
2,705 |
5,880 |
9,678 |
2,272 |
20,535 |
|
Sunam |
6,800 |
2,213 |
26,384 |
2,553 |
37,950 |
(Source: Land Resettlement Manual,
Punjab & PEPSU p. 442)
Grading of village. – The need for grading villages which
were to be allotted in erstwhile Punjab and PEPSU arose from a desire to ensure
that better villages were allotted those who had abandoned better lands.
Villages in Sangrur District were graded according to the percentage of
irrigated area in a village, as under:
|
Grade |
Extent of irrigated area in the village |
|
Grade I |
40 per cent or above |
|
Grade II |
30 to 40 per cent |
|
Grade III |
20 to 30 per cent |
|
Grade IV |
Below 20 per cent |
An analysis by grades of area available for
quasi-permanent allotment, in various tahsils of Sangrur District is given as
under:
|
|
|
Grade of Area (Standard Acres) |
||
|
Name of Tahsil |
I |
II |
III |
IV |
|
Sangrur |
13,501 |
18 |
8 |
.. |
|
Barnala |
12,736 |
2,328 |
1,748 |
139 |
|
Malerkotla |
11,578 |
108 |
120 |
79 |
|
Sunam |
13,617 |
2,272 |
1,325 |
3,646 |
(Sourest land Resettlement Manual Punjab and
PEPSU pp 457-458)
Scheme of Sub-Allocation. – The allocation of land to the
displaced claimants in Sangrur District was made according to the scheme of
allocation. According to this scheme, claimants from the Br circle of
Gujranwala Tahsil were settled in Tahsil Sangrur. The claimants from the Bangar
circle of Gujranwala Tahsil were settled in the Bhawanigarh portion of Sangrur
Tahsil. The displaced persons from the Rakh Branch and Gugera Branch circle of
Sheikhupura Tahsil and those from the Charkhari I Circle of Daska Tahsil of Sialkot
District were settled in the then Barnala District comprising Barnala and
Malerkotla tahsils of the present Sangrur District and Phool Tahsil of the
present Bathinda District. Further, claimants from the smaller towns of
Gujranwala qualified for suburban allotment, were got settled around Sangrur.
The claimants were to file their clams in
respect of the land left by them in Pakistan. The Government of India had
entered into an agreement with the Government of Pakistan, whereby each country
had agreed to make available the land records of the claimants for verification
of their field claims. After allotment of land, the cultivators were given
loans for purchasing of cattle and agricultural implements.
Allotment of Urban Immovable Property. – The house, shops, and industrial
establishments and other urban immovable properties, built or unbuilt, left by
the Muslims were allotted to the displaced persons. They were also required to
prefer their claims under the Displaced persons (Verification of Claims) Act,
1950. Those claims were also required to be verified. Those who did not have
urban property in Pakistan were allowed to get the houses at the fixed price.
Small urban loans and grants were introduced to help the displaced persons to
restart their trade, commerce and industries. These loans were advanced at 31/2
and 31/4 per cent interest and its recovery started two years after
the disbursement. The loans, together with interest, were to be realized over a
period of six years.
Last and final stage of rehabilitation was the
payment of compensation to the claimants. The claims were verified under the
Displaced Persons (Verification of Claims) Act, 1950, and the payment was to be
made under the provisions of Displaced Persons (compensation and Rehabilitation)
Act, 1954. The work of payment of compensation actually started in 1957.
Payments were made to the claimants by imposing cuts as in the case of
agriculturist. For instance, persons with higher claims. Were paid in lesser
proportion compared to those with smaller claims. Person with a claim upto Rs
2,000 received 66 per cent. Thereafter, the percentage decreased sharply. It
was only 11.11 per cent of the verified claim of 18 lakhs of rupees. The cut in
the compensation in the permanent allotment of land was also effected on the
basis of the graded cut formula.
In the Displaced Persons (Compensation and
Rehabilitation) Act, 1954, a provision was made to invite claims from those who
could not file their claims under Displaced persons (Verification and Clams)
Act, 1950, if they could justifiably explain that they could not file their
claims on valid grounds. There were certain cases in which the displaced
persons had not entered India before 1950. Such persons were also entitled to
file their claims which were got verified on priority basis and were finalized
along with other claims.
The rural and
urban displaced persons who settled in Sangrur District belonged mainly to
Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Lahore and Lyallpur (now Faisalabad)
districts of West Punjab. A large number of displaced persons from Gujranwala
and Sheikhupura settled around Sangrur, while a significant number from Sialkot
and Sheikhupura settled in Barnala Tahsil.
CHAPTER IV
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The
economy of Sangrur District is predominantly agricultural. According to the
1971 Census, 79.69 per cent population of the Sangrur District was rural
Against the corresponding figure of 76.27 per cent for the Punjab State. Of the
total working force, 71.48 per cent was dependent on agriculture as cultivators
and agricultural labourers. The
break-up of persons engaged in agriculture in the district as per Census of
1971 was as follows: --
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
As cultivators |
1,82,742 |
309 |
1,83,051 |
|
As agricultural labourers |
|
311 |
73,648 |
|
|
2,56,079 |
620 |
2,56,699 |
(a) Land Reclamation and Utilization
Land Utilization: Pattern of land utilization in Sangrur District
during 1968-69 to 1977-78 is given in the following table:
Classification of area by land use
in Sangrur District during 1968-69 to 1977-78.
Classification
of area by land use in Sangrur District during 1968-69 to 1977-78
(Thousands Hectares)
|
Particulars |
1968-69 |
1969-70 |
1970-71 |
1971-72 |
1972-73 |
1973-74 |
1974-75 |
1975-76 |
1976-77 |
1977-78 |
|
1
Total area according to village papers |
516 |
509 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
511 |
|
2
Area under forests |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
3
Land not available for cultivation |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
42 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
|
4
Other uncultivable land excluding fallow land |
13 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
|
5
Fallow land |
8 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
17 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
|
6
Net area sown |
452 |
448 |
449 |
450 |
448 |
450 |
443 |
454 |
457 |
456 |
|
7
Area sown more than once |
174 |
199 |
186 |
216 |
225 |
234 |
247 |
265 |
257 |
272 |
|
8
Total cropped area (6+7) |
626 |
647 |
635 |
666 |
673 |
684 |
690 |
719 |
714 |
728 |
(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1972 to 1978)
The
area, according to village papers is based on returns of area prepared by
village staff for revenue purposes in the district, whereas area by
professional survey is worked out by the Surveyor-General of India. There is
some difference in the two sets of figures because of different methods adopted
by them. In 1977-78, the area of the district was 511 thousands hectares, and
about 89 per cent of the land was under cultivation.
The
area under forests in the district during 1977-78 was 4 thousand hectares. This
includes actually forested area on the lands, classed or administered as forest
under any legal enactment dealing with forests whether State owned or private
except in areas not cadastrally surveyed. The area under forests given in this
section does not tally with that of the Forest Department owing to the fact
that certain lands, though not wooded, are taken as forest by the Forest
Department, while these are not treated as such by the Director of Land Record,
Punjab.
Land
no available for cultivation includes absolutely barren and unculturable land,
mountains, deserts, etc. which cannot be brought under plough except at
exorbitant cost, or land covered by buildings, roads and railways and water or
otherwise appropriated for non-agricultural purposes. The total area of land
not available for cultivation in the district was 41 thousand hectares in
1977-78.
Other
uncultivated land, excluding fallow lands, denotes land available for
cultivation, either not taken up for cultivation or abandoned later on for one
reason or the other and includes culturable wastes, permanent pastures, other
grazing lands, and lands under miscellaneous tree crops and groves. In 1977-78,
the area under this head was 4 thousand hectares in the district.
‘Fallow
lands’ denotes cultivable land which after abandonment remains uncultivated
over a long period called ‘old fallows’ and those kept uncultivated during the
current year are] called ‘current fallows’. The area under current fallow lands
in the district during 1977-78 was 6 thousand hectares.
‘Net
area sown’ is the area on which sowing is actually done during the course of
year. In 1977-78, the net area sown in the Sangrur District was 450 thousand
hectares. Area sown more than once in a year. Total cropped area is the gross
area under all crops in a year and is the total of net area sown and area sown
more than once. Such are in the Sangrur District, during 1977-78, was 728
thousand hectares. The culturable area per agricultural worker in the district
during 1975-76 was 1.63 hectares as against 2.23 hectares in 1960-61. The net
area sown per agricultural worker also decreased in 1975-76 to 1.59 hectares
from 2.03 hectares in 1960-61. the percentage of the area sown more than once
to the net area sown in the district, during 1975-76, was 58.37, whereas it was
37.24 in 1960-61.
(ii)
Reclamation of Waterlogged Area, Swamps, etc. – There is no river running through the district
except seasonal Ghaggar stream, which passes through the district for a very
short distance from Khanauri to Moonak besides two seasonal hill torrents
called sirhind Cho and Jhambowali Cho these rivulets cause damage
to the standing crops by causing floods, waterlogging and Sunam blocks, are
such where underground water is brackish and causes ‘kallar’ in the
soil. Water level has risen high and large fertile lands are becoming
waterlogged. While the reclamation of saline, alkaline and waterlogged areas is
the responsibility of the Irrigation Department, the reclamation of other types
of culturable waste lands is handled by Department of Agriculture.
The
area under thur and sem in the district, during 1973-74 to 1977-78, is shown
below:
Year thur
sem total
1972-73 5,719 1,452 7,171
1973-74 5,052 1,265 6,317
1974-75 4,689 632 5,321
1975-76 2,903 362 3,265
1976-77 1,741 164 1,905
1977-78 1,034 519 1,553
(Source: Financial Commissioner, Punjab, Chandigarh)
In the predominantly agricultural
district, irrigation has been the mainstay of its economy, prosperity and
development. About 71.48 per cent of its population depends on land. In order
to bring more areas under irrigation and to step up its intensity in the State,
several irrigation schemes have been taken up. As a result, the total area
under assured irrigation, during 1977-78, was 384.6 thousand hectares (84.3 per
cent).
(i) Rainfall. – Rain in the
district falls mostly in the months from July to September. In winter,
scattered rainfall takes place from mid-December to mid-February. The average
annual amount of rainfall in the district during the last five years, from 1975
to 1978, was 61.57 centimeters. With the extension of irrigation facilities
after Independence, there has hardly been a failure of crops for want of rains
in the district. This is well borne out by the following statement of monthwise
rainfall for a five-years period from 1974 to 1978: --
Rain fall in the Sangrur
District, 1974 to 1978
(Statistical Abstract of Punjab,
1975 to 1978 and Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur)
Irrigation Facilities. – Irrigation and agricultural
production are positively correlated. Major sources of irrigation in the
district are canals, tube-wells, wells and pumping-sets. The gross area
irrigation during 1973-74, in the district, was 584.5 thousand hectares (85.5
per cent) which rose to 647.1 thousand hectares in 1977-78 (88.9 per cent).
The table given below shows the net
area irrigated in thousand hectares along with the percentage to the net area
sown, through different sources of irrigation in the district, during 1973-74
to 1977-78:
|
Year |
Government canals |
Wells including tube-wells and pumping-sets |
Other sources |
Total |
Percentage to net area sown |
|
1973-74 |
131.2 |
232.8 |
-- |
364.0 |
81.0 |
|
1974-75 |
118.8 |
258.0 |
--- |
376.8 |
85.0 |
|
1975-76 |
130.0 |
241.2 |
1 |
371.6 |
81.8 |
|
1976-77 |
143.1 |
237.6 |
-- |
380.7 |
83.3 |
|
1977-78 |
134.0 |
250.3 |
0.3 |
384.6 |
84.3 |
(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab,
1974 to 1978)
Canals
Three branches of Sirhind Canal,
viz. the Bathinda Branch, Kotla Branch and Ghaggar Branch,and Bhakhra Main
Canal pass through the district. These canals have been taken off from the
River Satluj. Two branches of Sirhind Canal, Kotla Branch and Bathinda Branch, enter
the district near Jabo Majra and Ahmedgarh in Malerkotla Tahsil and serve
Malerkotla, Barnala and Sangrur tahsil. The Ghaggar Branch and Bhakhra Main
canal irrigate Sunam Tahsil. These canals irrigated 143.1 thousand hectares and
134 thousand hectares of area in the district during 1976-77 and 1977-78,
respectively. Following table shows the area irrigated by the canals in the
district, during 1973-74 to 1977-78:
Year area
irrigated by canals (thousand hectare)
1973-74 131.8
1974-75 118.8
1975-76 130.3
1976-77 143.1
1977-78 134.2
(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1974 to 1978)
Well
(Including Tubewells and Pumping Sets)
Next to canals, wells are an important source
of irrigation. Well irrigation in the Punjab is very old. Bullocks and camels
provide the main source of power for running the Persian-wheel. However, in
recent years the number of pumping-sets run by diesel and hydro-electric power
has considerably increased in the district. Well irrigation, unlike canal irrigation
does not cause waterlogging. The number of wells (percolation), tube-wells and
pumping-sets installed in the district and used for irrigation purposes during
1973-74 to 1977-78 is given below:
Item 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78
Wells
(percolation) 15,278 14,978 10,542 4,345 2,710
Tube-wells and
pumping sets 24,637 24,668 23,874 25,519 30,882 (Statistical Abstracts of Punjab,
1974 to 1978)
(c) Agriculture including Horticulture
(i) Set-up and Activities of the
Agriculture Department
The department is represented in the
district by a Chief Agricultural Officer, who is under the control of Director
of Agriculture, Punjab, Chandigarh. The Chief Agricultural Officer, has the
Overall charge of entire agricultural activities in the district. He and his
officials guide the farmers in proper cultivation of land, proper use of
artificial manures and in arranging good quality seeds. He is assisted by 1
Seed Development officer, 2 Subject Matter Specialists, 1 District Agricultural
Information Officer, 2 project Officers, (Reclamation), 1 Assistant Pilot
Project Officer, 2 Soil Testing Officers, 1 Agricultural Officer, 1 Assistant
Agriculture Engineer (Implements), 1 Junior Inspectors, 78 Agricultural
Sub-Inspectors, 8 Statistical Assistants besides ministerial/technical Class
III and Class IV staff.
To look after plant protection,
there are 4 Plant Protection Inspectors, 1 Agricultural Sub-Inspector, 3
Mechanics and 7 Beldars working under the control of chief Agricultural
Officer.
The agriculture Department guides
the farmers in the layout of gardens, in the extension of new orchards, in
controlling various pests and diseases affecting agricultural crops and
gardens, in the management and procurement of fertilizers and good quality
seeds, and in laying out demonstration plots to bring home to the cultivators
the superiority of varieties recommended for cultivation in the district. It
also helps the fruit-growers in getting enhanced supply of canal water for
establishing and developing new orchards. Loans are advanced by the Government
to the cultivators for repairing old wells and constructing new ones and
installing tube-wells and pumping-sets. Besides, taccavi loans are
advanced for the development of horticulture. Loans for the reclamation of the
land are also advanced to the cultivators.
(ii) Soil and Crops
Soils.
– Land of the
district largely a flat plain, with the exception of two monsoon torrents
namely the Sirhind Cho and Jambowali Cho and the Ghaggar
River, the Ghaggar traverses in the eastern side of the district near Moonak
and Khanauri. Also there are some san dunes which inhibit agricultural
production. The soil of Malerkotla Tahsil is clay loam, rich for cultivation.
The underground water table is high and water and water is suitable for
irrigation purpose and installation of shallow tube-wells is also feasible. The
sol of Sangrur and Barnala Tahsils is generally sandy loam, and enjoys and
facility irrigation from canals. Most of the area of Sunam Tahsil is backward.
The water table of the area is low, and the underground water is brackish which
causes ‘Kallar’ in the soil. Besides, Barnala Tahsil and some areas of Sangrur
Tahsil and Dhuri Sub-tahsil also have brackish water.
Major
and Subsidiary Crops. – There are two main harvests, the rabi (hari) or spring
harvest, and the Kharif (sawani) or autumn harvest. The rabi
crops are sown in October-November and harvested from mid-March to mid-May.
Late sowing of some H. Y. V. e.g. wheat (HDM 1553, WG-377) and Barley (C-64)
are also sown up to December-January. The Kharif sowings take place from
June to August and harvesting lasts from early September to late December.
Sugarcane and cotton are counted among the autumn crops though sown earlier.
The cultivation of some crops falls in between the Kharif and rabi seasons
and these are classed as zaid (Extra) Kharif and Zaid (extra)
rabi. Thus toria, which matures late in December, is a zaid
Kharif crop and melons which are harvested late in June, are among the zid
rabi crops.
The
principal rabi crop is wheat while minor ones or subsidiary crops rare
barely, gram, oilseeds (sarson, taramira, alsi and toria) and winter
vegetables such as peas, cabbages, cauliflower, turnip, carrot, etc. The principal
Kharif crops are paddy, sugarcane, cotton and groundnut, while maize, jowar
and bajra are minor crops. Kharif vegetables include tomato and lady finger, kharif pulses
are mainly moong , mash, arher, soyabean etc. while grapes, pear, peach,
guava etc. are the kharif fruits grown in the district.
Detailed
particulars regarding the area under different crops and their total production
in the district from 1973-74 to 1977-78 are given in Appendices I and II at the
end of this chapter. The important Kharif and rabi crops are
described as under:
Wheat
Among
foodgrains, wheat is the most important rabi crop of the district and is
the staple diet of the people. It is sown a few weeks after the retreat of
summer monsoons, generally in early November. At that time, the soil is most
easily worked and sufficient moisture is usually present to foster growth until
the light winter showers. It requires about four to five months to mature and
is harvested between April and May.
With
the improvement in irrigation facilities, the area under this crop has
increased from 320 thousand hectares in 1973-74 to 306 thousand hectares in
1977-78. During 1977-78, it produced 793 thousand metric tons of wheat. Framers
in the district have in general adopted high Yielding Varieties (H. Y. V), the
cultivations of which permit late sowing up to the months December of January.
Paddy
Next
to wheat, it is an important crop of the district. Increased irrigation
facilities, and heavy rains and floods resulting in waterlogging, have contributed
to the increased cultivation of this crop. Area under this crop in the district
during 1973-74 was 18 thousand hectares and in 1977-78, it increased to 53
thousand hectares. Consequently, production of this crop has also gone up from
44 thousand metric tons to the fact that the income from rice is more than that
from maize or any other Kharif done at the end of the June and in the beginning
of July. Its harvesting season in October-November.
Maize
It
is another major Kharif crop of the district. It is consumed mostly in
winter. It is sown in irrigated lands. Hybrid varieties have found favour with
the farmer. Production of the crop in the district during 1973-74 was 75
thousand metric tons and in 1977-78, it was 81 thousand metric tons. The reason
of its decreasing production is that the area under maize cultivation has
progressively been diverted to paddy cultivation. The area under maize
cultivation has decreased from 69 thousand hectares during 1973-74 to 55
thousand hectares during 1977-78. The diversion of area from maize to paddy
cultivation is due to the fact that the income derived from maize is less that
that from paddy.
Bajra
It
is also a Kharif, crop of the district. It is sown in early July when
summer rains sets in and is reaped in October-November. Production of the crop
in the district was 26 thousand metric tons in 1977-78. The area under bajra
cultivation in 1973-74 was 29.6 thousand hectare; it decreased to 25.6 thousand
hectares in 1977-78. This too is due to diversion of area in favour of
high-yielding varieties.
Barley
It
is Rabi cereal, sown from October to early January and harvested in
early April. It requires less water than that required by wheat. With the
improvement in irrigation facilities, the area is being diverted to other
remunerative crops and as such the area under the crop has decreased from 18.6
thousand hectares in 1973-74 to 10 thousand hectares in 1977-78 and produce
decreased from 20 thousand metric tons to 17 thousand metric tons of barley.
Pulses
Pulses
are the main source of proteins in the food. The pulses grown in the district
are gram, mash, moong, arhar and masur Gram is an important cash
crop and occupies large area like other major crops of the district. The area
under gram cultivation was 45 thousand hectares during 1973-74 which decreased
to 36 thousand hectares in 1977-78, the production was 35 thousand metric tons
during 1973-74 as compared to 36 thousand tons in 1977-78.
Oilseeds
Groundnut,
rape and mustard, linseed and sesamum are the oilseeds grown in the district.
Or these, groundnut is the most important crop. It is grown in sandy loam and
clay loam types of soil. During 1970-71, it was grown in 27 thousand hectares,
out of which about three-fifths of the area was in Malerkotla Tahsil alone,
one-fifth in Sangrur Tahsil and the remaining one-fifth was shared by Sunam and
Barnala tahsils. The area under groundnut gradually increased from 27 thousand
hectares in 1970-71 to 28.4 thousand hectares in 1973-74 and to 32.6 thousand
hectares in 1977-78. The production of this crop in the district during 1973-74
was 22 thousand metric tons which increased to 30 thousand metric tons in
1977-78.
Cotton
Cotton
is a major Kharif cash crop sown all over the district. The intensity of
the crop, sown in the district varies from tahsil to tahsil. In 1970-71, about
35 per cent of the total area under cotton in the district was sown in
malerkotla Tahsil, 35 per cent both in Sangrur and Sunam tahsils and remaining
30 per cent in Barnala Tahsil.
It
has two varieties, i.e. American and desi. Desi cotton is more
popular than American, because American cotton cannot stand heavy rains and
rough weather as the desi cotton can. Moreover, practically there has
been no substantial difference between the yield of American cotton and desi
cotton.
The
area under cotton varied from 65 to 72 thousand hectares during 1970-61 to
1964-65. It declined to 54 thousand hectares in 1965-66 and 43.6 thousand
hectares in 1970-71. During 1977-78, the area under this crop again increased
in the district; it was 87.9 thousand hectares (American 22.9 and desi
65) because, waterlogging which was the major cause of decline in area/crop has
been checked by the Drainage Department and suitable quantities of chemical
iputs/medicines have been used by the farmers to get better returns from the
reclaimed soil.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane
is one of the major cash crops of the district. It is grown all over the
district in irrigated lands—about 40 per cent of Sugarcane in the district is
grown in Malerkotla Tahsil 26 per cent in Sunam, 17 per cent in Barnala and 16
per cent in Sangrur tahsils. The area under sugarcane in 1961-62 to 1964-65.
There was sharp increase in area during 1955-56, when it reached 17 thousand
hectares, in subsequent years, it varied from 13 to 15 thousand hectares.
During 1977-78, the area under sugarcane was 13 thousand hectares which
produced 86 thousand metric tons of sugarcane.
Barseem
Barseem
is an important green-fodder crop of rabi. It is sown in larger areas in
Malerkotla Tahsil than in Sangrur and Sunam tahsils; and in Barnala Tahsil, it
is grown less than that in other tahsils of the district. It is sown during the
last week of September and first week of October. It is a highly nutritious
fodder and keeps on growing after repeated cuttings throughout the winter and
early summer seasons. The crop gets ready within 60 days after sowing.
Chillies
and potatoes are also grown in the district. During 1977-78, the area under
chillies was 4.76 thousand hectares and 0.4 thousand hectares under potatoes.
The production of chillies and potatoes was 4.1 thousand metric tons and 7.2
thousand tons, respectively, during 1977-78. The district occupies second
position (after Patiala District) in the state in the production of chillies.
Vegetables.—There is ample scope for increasing the
production of vegetables in the district because agro-climatically, it is
suitable for the production of almost all the vegetables. The land in
Malerkotla, Sangrur and Sunam tahsils is suitable for raising the production of
quality vegetables.
The
Total area under vegetables, excluding chillies, in the district, during
1977,78, was 2,380 hectares. Following vegetables are gown in the district:
|
Winter vegetables: -- |
Cauliflower (Phul gobhi), cabbage (band gobhi), potato (alu), turnip (shalgam), carrot (gajar), radish (muli), Spinach (palak), funegreek (methi), onion (piaz), garlic (lassan), capsium (shimla Murch), and peas (matter) |
|
Summer vegetables: - |
Lady finger (bhindi), bottle-grourd), (ghia kaddu), ash-gourd (petha), pumpkin (halwa kaddu), brinjal round and long (baingan), tomato (tamatar), musk-melon (sarda kharbuza), bitter-gourd (karela), sponge-gourd (ghia), wter-melon (tarbuz), chilies (mirch), arum (arvi), and sweet-potato (shakarkandi), long melon (tar), squash melon (tinda). |
Chillies and potatoes
are also grown in the district. During 1977-78, the area under chillies was
4.76 thousand hectares and 0.4 thousand hectares under potatoes. The production
of chillies and potatoes was 4.1 thousand metric tons and 7.2 thousand tons,
respectively, during 1977-78. The district occupies second position (after
Patiala District) in the State in the production of chillies.
Fruit
Crops and Gardens. – Fruits
and vegetables are among the most important foods of mankind as they are not
only nutritious but are also indispensable for the maintenance of health. From
the view point of an agriculturist, they are of great importance as he is
assured of high returns from their cultivation even on a small area.
The Subject Matter Specialist
Horticulture, Sangrur, is incharge of horticulture in the district. He is under
the administrative control of Director of Horticulture, Punjab, Chandigarh.
Prior to 1979, he was under the administrative control of Chief Agricultural
Officer, Sangrur. The Subject Matter Specialist, Sangrur, is assisted by 5
horticulture inspectors, (one each posted at Sangrur, Barnala, Malerkotla,
Sunam, and Demonstration-cum-Grape Nursery, Kheri), I Clerk and 18 Beldars.
During 1977-78, the area under fruits was 329 hectares.
The Demonstration-cum-Grape Nursery
was set up at Kheri (tahsil Sangrur) in February 1974. The nursery occupies an
area of 44 acres 3 kanals 4 marlas though it started with an area of 11 acres 4
kanals. Its area has been divided into different categories of fruit plants,
i.e. under grapes 3 acres 4 kanals 4 marlas, pears 13 acres 1 kanal 14 marlas,
kinos 51/2 acres, mangoes 12 acres 5 kanals 1 marla, ber 1 acre 6
kanals 5 marlas, guave 3 acres 5 kanals 3 marlas, and nursery plants 3 acres.
The remaining area 7 kanal 16 marlas is occupied by buildings and roads.
In the nursery, peach, pear, lemon, kino,
ber, guava, jaman, papaya and mango plants are grown. Government has also
established a fruit nursery near Sangrur which produces nursery plants of
citrus and other fruit plants like guava, bers, grapes, peach pears,
plums, and pomegranate.
(iii) Farmers’
Training Camps
The programme of farmers’ training
and education was introduced in the district in March 1972 as a
centrally-sponsored scheme. The main object of the scheme is to increase
agricultural production and also to popularize multiple cropping by involving a
large number of farmers in the High Yielding Varieties Programme and other
agricultural activities. Under the scheme, farmers’ training camps at
district/block/village level are organized in the beginning of the cropping
season. The extension staff and progressive farmers are imparted training in
seminars attended by experts of the Punjab Agricultural University and those of
the Agricultural Department. Punjab. Practical Demonstrations in respect of
seed treatment, drill sowing, and efficient application of fertilizers are
given at these camps.
(iv) Small
Farmers Development Agency
The small Farmers Development
Agency, Patiala, having Patiala and Sangrur districts in its jurisdiction, was
established at Patiala on 8 March 1971.
The objectives of the agency are: to
ameliorate the economic condition of down trodden class of rural masses; to
identify small/marginal farmers and agricultural labourers out of weaker
section; to analyse the problems of weaker section and drew up schemes for
raising their income; to make necessary arrangements to provide them credit
facilities, to provide them subsidy and to make necessary marketing
arrangements of their products. It encourages small/marginal farmers and
agricultural labourers to take up subsidiary occupations and provide loans for
opening dairies, piggeries, poultry and shops to supplement their income. The
loans given to them under these schemes are further subsidized by the
Government.
Besides, the Livestock Production
Programme Agency, Patiala, has been established in January 1978. Its main
objective is to envisage the proper rearing of cross-bred female calves from
the age of 4 months by agricultural labourers/small farmers and marginal
farmers with assistance in the form of cattle feed to their calves for their
proper development which, in turn, will increase the yield of milk. The cost of
cattle feed is subsidized to the extent 662/3 per cent for
agricultural laborers and 50 per cent for small/marginal farmers.
This scheme is implemented in the
district through the field staff of the Animal Husbandry Department. The
Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the area concerned verifies of possession of
the calves. The beneficiaries are issued ration cards indicating the agency
from which the feed will be available.
The subsidy on cattle feed is
released after receipt of the bill from the agency holder the bill is duly
verified by Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the area concerned. During 1977-78,
391 beneficiaries and in 1978-79, 696 beneficiaries got benefit under this
scheme in the district.
(v) Agricultural
Co-operatives
Agricultural operations involve lot
of energy, time and expenses of the farmer for a profitable harvest. While the
farmers does not mind devoting his energy and time which are at his disposal,
he has to look ‘outward’ for the purchase of agricultural machinery,
agricultural implements, quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and
insecticides. He has also to incur expenditure for employment of agricultural
labour and for redemption of his parcels of land incase they have been mortgaged
earlier by him or by his forefathers. If the land is fertile and agricultural
operations are a complete success, a farmer may be able to finance these
operations from his profits. This, however, is a rarity and the farmer has to
depend upon others for borrowing money. In earlier days, he used to borrow
money for these operations and also for incurring expenses on marriages, etc.
in the family from money-lenders who used to charge exhorbitant rates of
interest. In this context, co-operative societies have come to the rescuer of
the farmer. The co-operative movement seeks to protect him both against
economic deprivation and moral degeneration. What is difficult for an
individual to achieve in isolation and by his own sources alone, is under-taken
by a co-operative society whose affairs are managed by the members themselves.
There are a number of co-operatives in the sphere of agriculture which have
served different purposes from time to time. The first co-operative society in
the district, “the Balian Co-operative Credit Society”, was registered in 1916
in village balian, Tahsil Sangrur, with a membership of fifteen and a share
capital of Rs 150. Since then, co-operative movement has flourished in the
district.
The co-operative societies
functioning in the agricultural sector in the district are described below:
(1) Primary
Agricultural Credit/Service Societies. – The co-operative agricultural service societies
constitute the important sector of the Co-operative Movement in meeting the
credit requirements of farmers for fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.
The short term loan requirements of the societies are met by the Central
Co-operative Banks, while long-term loans are advanced to the agriculturists by
a chain of Primary Land Mortgage Banks. These societies play an important role
in the campaigns launched by Government to increase agricultural production. In
view of the rise in the price of chemical fertilizers, the borrowing limit of
members of these societies has been raised form Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000.
The major objectives of the primary
agricultural credit/service societies are to supply agricultural credit,
distribution essential consumer commodities, provide storage and marketing
facilities and loans for light agricultural implements and machinery
The year wise number of co-operative
Agricultural Credit/Service Societies and their membership from 1973-74 to
1977-78 in the Sangrur District was as under:
|
Year |
No. of Societies |
Membership |
Share capital (Rs in lakhs) |
Loans advanced during the year (Rs in lakhs) |
Deposits (Rs in lakhs) |
|
1973-74 |
740 |
1,25,934 |
122.27 |
511.60 |
28.60 |
|
1974-75 |
740 |
1,25,934 |
122.27 |
132.89 |
31.39 |
|
1975-76 |
740 |
1,28,137 |
141.80 |
624.08 |
30.73 |
|
1976-77 |
740 |
1,29,383 |
156.91 |
637.94 |
30.18 |
|
1977-78 |
740 |
1,31,675 |
167.73 |
757.27 |
28.22 |
(Source: Assistant
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Sangrur)
There
was one Central Co-operative Bank functioning in the district with 49 branches
at different places. Besides, there are 4 braches of the Primary Land Mortgage
Bank operating in the district, in each at Sangrur, Sunam, Barnala and
Malerkotla to meet the demand for long-term finance to the agriculturists.
These banks advanced loans worth Rs 170 lakhs to the farmers during 1977-78 for
the purchase of land, tractors, sinking tube-wells, etc.
(2)
Agricultural Non-Credit Societies. – These societies are formed under the
Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, The societies are formed for the purchase of
agricultural requirements like, implements, machinery, manures, seeds etc.; for
the sale of agricultural produce; for the insurance of cattle, crops, etc,; for
purposes of cattle–breeding and for similar other purposes like village uplift,
better farming, better living, etc. there were 762 agricultural non-credit
societies in the district in 1977-78.