Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Societies

Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Societies

The art of marketing is more difficult than that of production, especially in the case of agricultural produce. The marketing of farm products should be so systematic, scientific and well organized as to enable the farmer to negotiate a square deal and get a fair share of the value of his produce. For this purpose, agriculture co-operative marketing societies are functioning at different places in the district. Besides providing marketing facilities, these societies make arrangements for the supply of agricultural necessities and consumer articles in the rural area.

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 market level.

The number of co-operative societies and their membership etc. from 1973-74 to 1977-78 in the Sangrur District were as under:

Year	No. of Societies	Membership	Share capital (Rs in lakhs)	Working capital (Rs in lakhs)	Value of goods marketed (Rs in lakhs)
1973-74	10	8,004	11.79	152.45	1,311.21
1974-75	10	8,250	2.76	170.40	1,429.37
1975-76	10	9,533	3.07	255.99	1,625.14
1976-77	11	10,649	13.75	235.53	1,777.78
1977-78	11	10,849	14.07	330.58	1,913.93

(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Sangrur)

Co-operative Farming Societies

Co-operative farming is, in a sense, an extension of the concept of joint family system to agriculture. It is compromise between collective farming and peasant proprietorship and has all merits of large-scale farming without abolishing private property. It implies an organization farmer on the basis of common efforts for common interest. Under this system, all landowners in the village form a co-operative society for cultivating the land. The land is poled by each farmer retains the right to property. The produce is distributed among the members in proportion to the land and labour contributed by each. They are allowed to withdraw from the co-operative firm whenever they so desire.

The number and membership of co-operative societies from 1973-74 to 1977-78 year wise in the district was as under:

Year	No. of Societies	Membership	Share capital (Rs in lakhs)
1973-74	76	1,518	7.44
1974-75	76	1,518	7.39
1975-76	76	1,518	7.39
1976-77	78	1,558	7.59
1977-78	78	1,558	7.52

(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Sangrur)

Other Societies

Besides the above, there are a number of other co-operative societies in the agricultural and allied fields. There number in the district in 1977-78 was under:

Serial no.	Type of Societies	Number (1977-78)
1	Co-operative Collective Farming Societies	… 78
2	Co-operative Milk Supply Society	… 292
3	Co-operative Housing Societies	… 81

(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Sangrur and Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1978)

(v) Progress of Scientific Agriculture

Agricultural production can be increased either by extensive cultivation or by intensive cultivation. Extensive cultivation of possible by bringing larger areas under cultivation by claiming waste lands, fallow lands, etc. Intensive cultivation, provision of better seeds evolved through agricultural research and use if improved implements, chemical fertilizers, etc. A few of these are detailed below:

Agricultural Implements. – Use of improved agricultural implements is an important input for increasing agricultural production. The Department of Agriculture has been giving demonstrations in the use of improved agricultural implements and the farmers in the district are rapidly adopting the modern techniques and implements in cultivation. To train the farmers in successful operation of improved agricultural implements, a scheme for demonstration of the implements has also been stated in the district under the Intensive Agricultural Development Programme.

The Persian wheels are being replaced by tube-wells and pumping-sets. The traditional system of threshing wheat under the feet of bullocks has almost been discarded in favour of the mechanical method of using power threshers operated with tractors or small motors. The farmers are also using precision machines like seed-drills, seed-cum-fertilizer-drills, corn planters, etc. However, improved agricultural implements, viz. iron plough, disc-harvestors for wheat and paddy, etc. are becoming very popular. In 1973-74, the number of diesel engines in the district was 47,951, it rose to 63, 914 in 63,914 in 1979-80. Similarly, tractors are becoming equally popular, and their number in the district has increased from 5,028 in 1973-74 to 8,697 in 1979-80.

Old type of agricultural implements still in vogue in the district are hal (plough), khrupa, sickle, kasola, etc. but the improved implements are being gradually adopted by the farmers in view of their utility and scope for use. The Department of Agriculture is also stressing upon farmers to adopt scientific methods through individual contracts with field staff, and by radio talks and discussions.

Seeds. – Quality seed is the basic input for increasing productivity per unit area. According to Government if India’s norm, seed should be replaced after every 3-4 years. As such seed production programme has been accelerated to intensify seed supply programmes by setting up the Punjab State Seeds Corporation and the State Seed Certification authority. Besides, various 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.

Seed Farm. – There is only one government seed farm at Chural Kalan in Lehragaga block in the district. It was opened in 1958 and remained closed from 1970 to 1978. During rabi, wheat seeds is produced in the farm in kharif it produces seeds of moong and cotton.

High Yielding Varieties. – In order to increase the total production of foodgrains, a few high-yielding varieties of crops are grown in the district. The yield per hectare of those varieties is higher as compared to the other varieties. The high-yielding varieties of crops sown in the district are detailed below:

Name of crop	Variety
Wheat	… W.G. 357, H.D. 2009, H.D. 1533, KSML-3, WL-11
Paddy	… IR—8, jaya, PR—106, PR- 103, palman-579
Maize	… Ageti-76, Ganga-5, Composite Vijay
Sugarcane	… CO-1148, Coj-64, co-1158
Gram	… G-214, G-235, G-130
Groundnut	… M-13, M-145
Cotton	… F-414, Bikaneri G-27

(Source: Chief Agricultural Officer, Sangrur)

The area under high-yielding varieties of wheat, paddy, and maize, during 1977-78, was 306,60 and 15 thousand hectares, respectively.

The percentage of area under high-yielding varieties to the total cropped area in the Sangrur District for wheat, paddy and maize, during 1973-74 to 1977-78, is given below:

Name of crop	Percentage of area under high-yielding varieties to total cropped area in the Sangrur District.
Name of crop	1973-74	1974-75	1975-76	1976-77	1977-78
Wheat	... 98.57	97.67	99.29	…	100.00
Paddy	… 100.00	69.23	100.00	…	100.00
Maize	… …	56.45	44.44	…	32.73

(Statistical Hand book of Punjab, 1976-77, issued by the Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab Chandigarh.)

Crop Rotation. – The rotation of crops is adopted by the farmers to increase the fertility of soil by leaving the land fallow and by mixed cropping. Suitable crop rotations thus help in maintaining the fertility of soil and the farmers of the district are well aware about this fact. Besides, the rotations differ according to the type of soils/areas and other prevailing conditions.

The rotations generally followed in the Sangrur District, according to the type of soils/area are: if the soil is clay loam which is found in Malerkotla Tahsil, the main crop rotations being followed are paddy-wheat, maize-wheat, kharif fodder-wheat, etc.; if the soil is sandy loam, the main crop rotations being followed are groundnut-wheat, maize-wheat, cotton-wheat, kharif fodder-wheat etc.; and if the soils saline and alkaline, at the main crop rotations being followed are green-manuring and paddy-wheat.

In addition to the above rotations, vegetables-followed-by-vegetables rotation is also followed in clay loam soil and to some extent in all other types of soils except in 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 irrigational facilities, good manuring, judicious rotation of crops, and above all with the decrease in per capita land holding because of increasing population, this practice is being gradually abandoned. In 1978, only 6 thousand hectares were left as fallow land in the district.

Fertilizers and Manures. – Fertilizer is the major input plays a vital role for increasing agricultural production. To bring the district at the level of other developed districts, enhanced consumption of fertilizer becomes inevitable. With every crop removed from the land, the soil is exhausted of its fertility and this deficiency is made good by the enhanced supply of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potash in balanced proportions. These inputs are essential to improve texture and fertility of the soil.

Chemical Fertilizers

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and important nutrients required by crops in large quantities because soils are generally deficient in one or more of these nutrients. Therefore, concentrated fertilizers of each of these nutrients, as well as mixtures of single nutrients fertilizers are manufactured and applied to the soils to raise fertility of the land. With a view to knowing the exhausted nutrients of a particular area, laboratories have been set up, at various places, by the State Marketing Federation (MARKFED) and the Agriculture Department, Farmers can get the samples of soil from their fields tested in a laboratory and improve the fertility of their lands in the light of test reports received from the laboratory.

The following table shows the use of chemical fertilizers in the district, during 1973-74 to 1977-78:

Year	Fertilizers used (‘000’ Nutrients tones
1973-74	… 141
1974-75	… 136
1975-76	… 126
1976-77	… 31
1977-78	… 44

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1974 to 1978)

Local Manurial Resources

Rural Compost and Cattle-Dung Manure. – It is a well-known fact that compost is a very useful organic manure for increasing fertility of the soil. In addition to major nutrients, it also contains micro-nutrients, which are most essential particularly for high-yielding varieties. The farming community is not fully aware of its importance and about 50 per cent of compost in the rural areas is wasted as fuel in the form of dung cakes. It consists mainly of vegetable substances mixed with animal dung and urine. It, therefore, contains all the elements present in the plant itself and provides an appropriate additive to the soil for restoring the ingredients removed from it by the crop. In view of the importance of this manure, Government has launched a campaign to make the best use of farmyard manure and other wastes. The East Punjab Conservation of Manures Act, 1949 (1950 Amendment) 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 1973-74 to 1977-78, is given below:

Years	Rural compost prepared (in lakh tones)
1973-74	… 7.00
1974-75	… 7.20
1975-76	… 7.50
1976-77	… 8.30
1977-78	… 8.50

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

Green Manuring. – Green manuring is an effective method of increasing soil fertility at a relatively low cost. It is very economical to produce crops after green manuring as the cost of chemical fertilizers is very high and for that reason, beyond the reach of an average farmers. It increases the fertility of soil by direct addition of nitrogen to the soil, besides improving physical properties of the soil and conservation of moisture. The crops generally used for green manuring are guara, dhaincha, sauhemp and senji.

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 area under green manuring in the district. 1973-74 to 1977-78, is given below:

Year	Area under Green Manuring (Area in hectares)
1973-74	… 11,000
1974-75	… 11,500
1975-76	… 12,000
1976-77	… 12,622
1977-78	… 12,800

(Source: Field Manure Office, Punjab, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, District Rupnagar)

Town compost and Sullage Utilization

Town Compost. – 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, e.g. 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 wastes are collected and allowed to decompose in various trenches. The quantity of town compost prepared in the district, during 1973-74 to 1977-78 is given below:

Year	Town compost prepared (in metric tones)
1973-74	… 33,000
1974-75	… 33,500
1975-76	… 34,000
1976-77	… 35,000
1977-78	… 35,500

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

Sullage Utilization. – The water, as the plant nutrients, and organic matter supplied by sewage, sewerage or sullage, are highly useful for almost all crops. These are easily available for fields in the vicinity of towns.

(viii) Agricultural Insect-pest and Diseases and Obnoxious Weeds

Insect-Pests and Diseases. – It is not possible to get optimum benefit of fertilizers and hard labour put in by the farmer in raising the crops unless they are properly protected from the ravages of various insect-pests and diseases. The crops are protected by providing facilities to the farmers for ground and aerial sprayings. Special campaigns are launched to control insect-pests of sugarcane and rabi oilseed crops. Plant protection squads in the blocks help the farmers combat the pest menace on ‘no profit no loss’ basis. For controlling seed-borne diseases and improving germination of some crops, treatment is being under-taken extensively. Use of weedicides is being taken up on a large scale for controlling the weeds effectively and economically. Special campaigns are also launched for rate control.

The scheme of plant protection was launched in the district in 1952. Under the scheme, 4 Plant Protection Inspectors, 1 Agricultural Sub-Inspector, 7 Beldars and 3 Mechanics are employed to guide the cultivators as to how to escape from these diseases which adversely affect agricultural productively.

Following are the major pests and diseases which damage crops, vegetables and fruits in the district:

Crop pests and Disease

Wheat … termites

Maize … Maize borer

(i) Top borer

(ii) Stem borer

paddy … 1 Grass hopper

2 Leaf Folder

3 Rice hispa

4 Bacterial leaf Blight

Sugarcane … 1 Shoot borer

2 Top borer

3 Mite

4 Black Bug

5 Pyrilla

6 Red rot

7 Wilt

8 Termite

Gram … 1 Gram Catter Piller

2 Pod borer

3 Wilt

Sarson (Mustard) … 1 Jassid

2 Leaf minor

3 White fly

Cotton … 1 Jassid

2 Pink balworm

3 Leaf seller

4 Grey bevel

White fly

6 Mite

Chillies … 1 Jassid and Aphid

2 Termite

3 Virus

4 Die back

5 Juisips

Groundnut … 1 Tikka disease

2 Termite

3 Jassid and Aphid

4 Groulies

Fruit pests and Diseases

Grapes … 1 Catter pillar

Pear … 1 Catter pillar

2 Cage worm

Kinnoo … 1 Citrus Pyrilla

2 Leaf minor

3 White fly

4 Citrus Canker

Mango … 1 Mango

2 Mealy bug

3 Shoot borer

4 Mango malformation

Ber … Powdery mildew

Vegetable Pests and Diseases

Potato … 1 Jassid and aphid

2 Early blight

3 Late blight

4 Virus

5 Potato cutworm

Tomato … 1 Jassid

2 Virus

3 Fruit borer

Cabbage and Cauliflower … 1 Jassid

2 Cabbage catter piller

Bhindi … 1 Jassid and Aphid

2 Root knot

3 Spotted ballworms

Brinjal … 1 Jassid

2 Fruit borer

3 Shoot borer

4 Brinjal hadda

Cucurbats … 1 Jassid

2 Powdery mildew

3 Downy mildew

4 Fruit fly

5 Red pumpkin beetle

Store Grain pests … 1 Khapra beetle

2 Rice Weevil

3 Susri

4 Gram Dhora

Miscellaneous Pests … 1 Rats

2 Sparrows

3 Parrots

4 Jackals (Rarely)

(ix) Research Stations. – There is only one Sugarcane Research Centre of Punjab Agricultural University functioning at Kheri in Sangrur block in the district. It developed A1-15 variety of arhar.

(d) Animal Husbandry, Poultry and Fisheries

Rearing of livestock is an important allied agricultural activity. The farmer has, traditionally, been depending on draught animals for ploughing, on milch cattle, mainly cows and buffaloes, for milk and other dairy products for domestic use and for supplementing his farm income. With increase in population, size of land holding has decreased. The farmer is, therefore, now in need of adding to his agricultural income through livestock and diary products, poultry and piggery, etc. After Green Revolution, the State is poised for White Revolution and the farmer is ready to play his role in making the White Revolution a success. To achieve this objective, state is also helping the farmer through large scale cross-breeding programmes, improved feeding and management practices, and by effective campaigns against control among animals.

Following table shows the number of livestock in the district from 1956 to 1978:

Particulars	1,956	1,961	1,972	1,977
Livestock	11,696	11,318	9,486	12,715
Cattle	5,006	5,234	4,040	4,122
Buffaloes	3,2971	3,966	3,898	4,299
Horse and ponies	555	39	29	32
Donkeys	150	155	64	58
Mules	2	2	9	23
Sheep	1,224	913	519	665
Goats	1,653	693	713	662
Camels	249	1,367	159	111
Pigs	59	1,114	55	183
Poultry	994	1,270	1,767	2,560

(Source: Census of India 1961, Punjab Census handbook No. 17, Sangrur District and Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1978 and District Animal Husbandry Officer, Sangrur)

At the district level, the District Animal Husbandry Officer at Sangrur works under the administrative control of the manager, Indo-Swiss Project, Patiala.

(i) Animal Health Wing and Animal Breeding Wing. – At the district level, the Animal Husbandry Department comprises two wings, viz. the Animal Health Wing and the Animal Breeding Wing.

Animal Health Wing. –It is under the charge of the District Animal Husbandry Officer, Sangrur, who is assisted by 49 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and 87 Veterinary Compounders, besides Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

The main activities of this wing are: to treat animals for surgical incidence and against systematic disturbance; to publicize the hygienic milk production; to organize farmers’ training camps; to ensure hygienic meat supply; to deal with vetrolegal cases; to regulate the supply of rice polish for poultry, to attend to contagious diseases against animals; to promote poultry, piggery, sheep and goat raising; and to keep a watch on cattle fairs and cattle export, etc. these activities are carried out through 23 veterinary hospitals and 39 permanent outlying veterinary dispensaries (as on 31 March 1978).

Animal Breeding Wing. – Breeding work in the district is looked after by the District Animal Husbandry Officer, Sangrur, who is assisted by 3 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and 74 Livestock Assistants, besides Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

For the improvement of cattle breed in the district, cattle breeding programme is being implemented through artificial insemination centers, Intensive Cattle Development Programme Units, Key Village Units, Switzerland is being used in the institutions of this district. Apart from this, the main activities of the breeding wing are: to keep up the breeding efficiency of bulls; to produce semen from bulls and supply it to the Key Village Units for artificial insemination; to organize camps for increasing the production efficiency of cows and buffaloes; to hold camps of increase the production efficiency of cows and buffaloes; to hold camps for calf health; to organize calf rallies in villages; and to propagate enhanced high quality fodder production. The activities are carried through 3 Artificial Insemination Centres each under the charge of a trained Veterinary Assistant Surgeon and 23 Key Village Units, each under the charge of a trained Stock Assistants. Particulars of these institutions for artificial for artificial insemination in the district are as under:

Artificial Insemination Centre	Year of opening	Key Village Units Attached
Dhanaula	17-1-1958	1 Kube
		2 Bhani Mahraj
		3 Kalake
		4 Dhul Kot
		5 Nangla
		6 Pather
		7 Shekha
		8 Karamgarh
		9 Kot Dina
		10 Pharbahi
Dhrui	1951	1 Mullowal
		2 Bhalwan
		3 Banphori
		4 Ghanauri Kalan
		5 Memsa
		6 Mugra
Malerkotla	6-12-1956	1 Langrian
		2 Guara
		3 Bhasour
		4 Chaonda
		5 Bhulran
		6 Bathan

Semen Bank, Sangrur. – For the improvement of cattle breed in the district, a Regional Semen Bank at Sangrur was opened on 21 December 1974. The bank preserves the collected semen with the help of liquid nitrogen which is produced by Liquid Nitrogen Plant at Sangrur. It is supplied to Artificial Insemination Centres and Key Village Units to preserve semen for a long time.

To look after the collected semen in the Semen Bank, Sangrur, 1 Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, 1 Stock Assistant, and 2 Liquid Nitrogen Plant operators, and other miscellaneous staff have been posted at Sangrur.

Development of Gaushalas

Each gaushala is provided by the government with a certain number of animals of improved breed and is required to secure and equal number from its own resources. This scheme was introduced in the Punjab during 1957-57 under the Second Five-Year Plan. There were, in 1977-78, 11 Tapa, Dhuri, Malerkotla, Sunam Ahmedgrh, Lehragaga and Chhahar (Tahsil Sunam).

Gosadans

There is no gosadan in the district.

Cattle Fairs and Shows

In 1967, the Punjab Government nationalized the cattle fairs through-out the State by promulgating the Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulations) Ordinance, subsequently replaced by the Punjab Cattle Fairs (Regulation) Act of 1967. In each district, a Cattle Fair Officer with necessary supporting staff has been posted to organize cattle fairs and shows in the district. Good quality cattle are brought to these fairs and shows which serve a very useful purpose in brining the breeders and buyers in the direct touch, besides, yielding handsome income to the authorities by way of various kinds of fees. In the Sangrur District, cattle fairs and shows are held at Atal, Barnala, Bahadur Singh Wala, Bagrian, Bhawanigarh, Dhanaula, duggan, Johalan, Malerkotla, Lehragaga, Sangrur and Tapa.

Castration

Castration is one of the most feasible means of controlling the reproductive ability of scrub and inferior bulls. Breeding through such bulls causes deterioration in the genetic potential of the progeny. Government has been making strenuous efforts for the elimination of undesirable male calves castration. During 1977-78, 4,955 cattle were castrated in the district.

Control of Menace of Wild and Stray Cattle. – Great damage is done to the crops by wild and stray cattle in rural area. 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 the wild and Stray Cattle Catching Scheme, was launched in the State in 1962-73. Under the scheme, cattle-catching parties have been organized to round up wild and stray cattle. This scheme is being operated by the General Manager, Buffalo Breeding Farm, Bir Dosanj, Nabha.

(ii) Area under Fodder Crops. – Fodder crops are the main food of the cattle. The availability of cultural wastes, permanent pasture and grazing lands are decreasing day by day. With the decrease in grazing facilities, fodder crops have gained much importance. The area under such crops was 81,142 hectares in 1977-78. The important among the fodder crops are chari, guara, green maize, berseem, etc. of these berseem is the leading crop i the district. Green grasses are also available during the rainy season. Following table gives the area under the area under fodder crops in the district from 1974-75 to 1977-78:

Fodder Crops

Kharif	Year
	(Area in acres)
	1974-75	1975-76	1976-77	1977-78
Jowar (Chari)	23,605	24,076	21,452	13,073
Guara	12,467	9,275	5,358	11,572
Other fodders	22,220	19,091	19,714	21,041
Total	58,292	52,442	46,524	45,686
Rabi Crops
Berseem	22,080	22,072	21,978	18,427
Oats (Javi)	60	97	437	137
Other Fodders	5,167	6,593	19,407	16,856
Total	27,307	28,762	41,822	16,856
Grand total	86,599	81,204	88,346	41,141

(Source: Chief Agricultural Officer, Sangrur)

(iii) Dairy Farming

A diet consisting mainly of cereals is not an adequate source of nutrition and the sturdy Punjabi farmer needs a generous supply of milk and milk products to enable him to work hard in the fields in all types of weather conditions. The State Government is conscious of the important role which milk plays in the diet of the community and is, therefore, encouraging the development of modern dairy farming as a subsidiary to agriculture. Buffaloes and cows constitute the main source of the supply of milk. Milk production in the district is about 329 thousand kgs. Per annum procured in the organized sectors. Punjab Dairy Development Corporation and M/s Hindustan Milk Food Manufactures Ltd. Nabha (Patiala District) are the Milk procuring agencies in the district. With a view to encouraging dairy farming and providing incentives to diary farmers, a milk plant and chilling centers are being established in the district.

According to Livestock Census of 1972, the number of milch cows and buffaloes was 1,12,900 and 20,600, respectively in the Sangrur District.

(iv) Sheep Breeding

Sheep rearing is picking up in the district, but it is only the small and marginal farmers and other weaker sections of society who have adopted sheep farming as their subsidiary occupation/means of livelihood. The activity has not prospered for want of incentives.

The potential for development of sheep rearing in the district exists mainly in Barnala, Mahal Kalan, Sehna, Ahmedgarh, Sunam and Lehragaga blocks as pastures are available in these areas and the climate is comparatively dry and conductive the sheep rearing. During 1972, the number of sheep and goats in the district was 51,900 and 71,300 respectively. This number rose to 66,496 and 66,182 in 1977.

(v) Poultry Farming

There has been a considerable change in the dietary habits of people of the district during the last few years. They have been steadily switching over to non-vegetarian nutritious diet and with the result that demand for eggs and poultry birds is increasing day by day. Government is also encouraging poultry breeders by advancing loans for poultry farming. The number of poultry birds in the district rose up from 1,75,700 in 1972 to 2,56,000 in 1977. The plant established at village Upli (Tahsil Sangrur) for manufacture of egg trays in the first of its kind in North India.

(vi) Piggery

Government has been laying great emphasis on pig production in the district. Pig farming is not well developed in the district and pig rearing is confined only to economically backward people. The community block of Barnala, Mahal Kalan and Sehna are comparatively better placed in the matter of pig keeping. There are also adequate arrangements for the supply of piglets in Sunam, Lehragaga and Bhawanigarh block. The blocks of Malerkotla, Ahmedgarh, Dhuri and some parts of Sangrur could not develop this activity on commercial lines due to the religious sentiments of a large number of the inhabitants. According to Livestock Census of 1972, there were only 5,500 pigs in the district. Their number rose to 18,300 in 1977.

(vii) Fisheries

The officer of the Fisheries Officer, Sangrur, was established prior to 1959. It was upgraded in June 1976 to the level of District Fisheries Officer who is incharge of Fisheries Department in the district. He under the administrative control of the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Patiala. The District Fisheries Officer, Sangrur, is assisted by 4 Fisheries Officers (one each posted at Sangrur, Barnala, Malerkotla and Sunam), 7 Field Assistants [including 5 Field Assistants appointed under Conservation Scheme (Canals)], 9 Fishermen, 1 Laboratory Assistant, besides other class IV staff.

Fishers have tremendous potential in the district. Fish are cultured in village ponds but are also caught from notified waters, viz. the Ghaggar River (from village Khanauri to Shakhal Bridge), Kotla and Sunam – Rajowali branches of the Sirhind Canal. Al these notified waters pass through the district. The village ponds are very fertile for pisciculture and the main varieties cultured in the district are rohu, mrigel, cartla, common carp, etc. Their breeding is done at Fish Feed Farm, Sangrur. The common carp breeds in February and March while the rohu, mrigel, etc. breed in July and August every year. The area stocked with fish seed in the district and was 33 hectares, in 1978 when the income from fish production was Rs 27,000. Out of this income, a sum of Rs 8,515 was realize by selling 1,72,025 fish seed units which were produced in the Fish Seed Farm, Sangrur. A sum of Rs 10,400 was realized by auction of stocked ponds. The different varieties of fish found in the district are mentioned in I ‘General’ Chapter in its section ‘Fauna’.

(viii) Animal Diseases and Veterinary Hospitals

Animal Diseases. -- Animals suffer from t number of diseases in the district. The most common diseases are as under:

Category of animal	Disease
Cattle	Foot & Mouth, B.Q., Parasitic, Sirrah, Pica, Degnela
Buffaloes	H. S. Sirraha, Parasitic, Degnela & Pica
Horse/Ponies	Disease of Respiratory & Digestivetract
Donkeys	Ditto
Mules	Ditto
Sheep	Emterotoximic sheep Pox Parasitic
Goats	Parasitic Disease of Respiratory & Digestive tract
Camels	Kumari, Sirraha, Respiratory & Digestivetract.
Pigs	Swin fever, Parasitic & Respiratory & Digestivetract
Poultry	Fowl Pox, coccidoss, E-coli, parasitic

Veterinary Hospitals. – To combat animal diseases in the district, a network of veterinary hospitals/dispensaries has been created. In 1977-78, there were 23 veterinary hospitals, 39 outlying dispensaries and 3 artificial insemination centers in the district. The number of cases treated by these institutions, during 1977-78, was 1,75,803. Besides, 2,18,239 vaccinations were performed/inoculated to animals and 30,172 animals were covered under the artificial insemination centers as on 31 March 1978, is given in the following table: -

Veterinary Hospitals and permanent outlying Dispensaries and Artificial Insemination Centres in Sangrur District as on 31 March 1978

Veterinary Hospitals	Permanent Outlying Dispensaries	Artificial Insemination Centres
	Sangrur Tahsil
1 Sangrur	1 Deh Kalan
2 Gagarpur	2 Saron
3 Cheema	3 Ghabdan
4 Bhawanigarh	4 Duggan
	5 Sheron
	6 Rajpura
	7 Gharachon
	Barnala Tahsil
5 Dadhahur	8 Pharwahi	Dhanaula
6 Barnala	9 Sehjra
7 Thikriwala	10 Chiniwal Kalan
8 Dhanaula	11 Gehol
9 Hadiaya	12 Bihla
10 Sehna	13 Kattu
11 Tapa	14 Thuliwal
	15 Bhatlan
	16 Jaladiwal (temporary)
	17 Ugoke
	Malerkotla Tahsil
12 Dhuri	18 Bhularheri	Dhuri
13 Sherpur	19 Kakarwal
14 Malerkotla	20 Kanjla	Malerkotla
15 Bagrian	21 Mandian
16 Ahmedgarh	22 Lasoi
17 Rurekeklan	23 Dhadogal
	24 Naromajra
	25 Umarpur
	26 Lohatbaddi
	27 Talewal
	28 Rasulpur
18 Longowal	29 Chhajli
19 Sunam	30 Medewas
20 Kaurian	31 Mehlan
21 Lehragaga	32 Andana
22 Moonak	33 Mouran
23 Dirba	34 Balran
	35 Dudian (temporary)
	36 Lakhmirwala
	37 Bhaike Pishore (temporary)

(Source: District Animal Husbandry Officer, Sangrur)

(e) Forestry

There is a Divisional Forest Officer at Sangrur whose office was established in May 1978. Jurisdiction of the division extends to the entire district and the division has been divided into four ranges, viz. Sangrur, Barnala, Malerkotla Lehragaga. The Divisional Forest Officer, Sangrur, was assisted (as on 31 March 1980) by 3 Forest Rangers, 2 Deputy Rangers, 13 Foresters, 65 Forest Guards, 1 Head Clerk, 1 Assistant and 10 Clerks, besides ministerial Class III and Miscellaneous Class IV staff.

(i) Importance of Forestry in the Economy of the District: -- Forest Department is raising forests to meet the growing demand of fuelwood, small wood-based industries and to release cowdung from its use as fuel and to save and land from erosion and floods. The forests of the district are situated in the birs, and along the rail, road and canal strips. Also to trees are planted by the farmers along the boundaries of their fields to meet their day to day demands, because sometimes back deforestation had been effected by private landowners due to consolidation of land holdings in the district. The strips along roads, railway lines and canals were transferred to the Forest Department for scientific management some years back. The Department for scientific management some years back. The department has launched a scheme called ‘Farm Forestry’ throughout the State of Punjab and its implantation has been highly appreciated by farmers. The existing forests comprise mainly of shisham,Kikar, eucalyptus hybrid, magnifera indica, morus alba, syzgium cumini, azadirachta indica melozedorach, however, there is also a sprinkling of other species like Pipal, Khazur and beri.

Shisham, Kikar and eucalyputs trees occur in large number in the district, whereas the remaining species are mostly found scattered in varying proportions. Since the soil in the birs of the district varies from saline and the P. H. value is high, the species found most in the birs include kikar, masquite, dhak, neem, etc. Shisham, Kikar and eucalyptus are the planted on extensive scale. The ground flora comprises large number of grasses and herbs. Most of the strips especially those in the waterlogged and low-lying areas bear profuse growth of saccharum munjja (kana), spon taneum (kahi) cenchrus species (anjan), Desmostachya-bipinata (dala),and typha elephantiana (batar). Typha angustata grows in stagnant waters on vast stretches and indicates permanent waterlogging conditions.

Area under Forests. – The area of the Sangrur District is level plain and fit for agriculture. Reserve forests of not exist in the Forest Division, Sangrur. The forest areas consist of unclasses evacuee forests, areas under section 38 of the Indian Forests Act, 1927 and private areas closed for a certain period under section 4 of the Land Preservation Act, 1900. The Forest Division, Sangrur, also manages the strips along P. W. D. roads, railway lines, canals and drains. In 1977-78, and 1978-79, the area under forests under the control of the Sangrur Forest Division, Sangrur was 7,026.36 hectares. The rangewise area (1977-78) in the division is as under:

Name of range	Total area(hectares)	Percentage of the of the district area
Sangrur	1,439.75
Barnala	1,613.00
Malerkotla	1,721.60
Lehragagai	2,252.01
Total	7,026.36	1.32

The forests in the district are classified, according to the legal status, into protected and Unclassed, which are mentioned below:

Protected Forests

There is no area under Reserved Forest in the Sangrur Forest Division. All rail, road, canal and drain strips have been declared as Protected Forests by the State Government, these strips were transferred [P1] for scientific, management to Forest Department. These strips were being stocked mainly with shisham, Kikar and eucalyptus trees: some other species like mango, jaman, etc. are also found on these strips.

The birs of the Sangrur District also been included in Protected Forests. Previously, these birs were used as grazing lands. The birs are not situated in compact blocks, on the contrary they are like detached islands here and there. Almost all the birs contain inferior scattered crop of kana, bushes, kikar, beri, jand, grass, etc. and at certain places big sandy blanks are also met with. In nutshell, the existing vegetation is of no commercial importance except that it yields low grade fire-wood. Efforts are afoot to rehabilitate these birs by replacing the existing vegetation and blanks with the species having economics value.

During 1977-78 the area under Protected Forests was 4142.51 hectares which increased to 7974.36 hectares in 1979-80.

Unclassed Forest

During 1978, the area under Unclassed Forests in the division was 16 hectares which increased to 85 hectares in 1979-80. These forests are stocked mainly with shisham, kikar and eucalyptus trees; other species like mango, jaman, drek, pipal and beri trees and kahi, kana, and ponni grass are also found in these forests.

The area under forests in the district as on 1979-80 was as under:

Particulars	Area (in hectares)
(i) Reserved Forests	Nil
(ii) Protected Forests --
Road strips 1,128.42
Link Road strips 1,215.00
Rail strips 401.25	7,974.22
Canal strips 2,365.70
Drain strips 2,397.07
Bir strips 467.41
(iii) Unclassed Evacuee Forests	85.00
(iv) Under section 38 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927	3,68.00
Total	8,427.22

(iii) Forest Produce

Trees and fuel-wood re the principal forest produce in the district; minor forest produce are fruits, kahi-kana and pani, which are generally auctioned every year. If properly tendered and scientifically preserved. Forests can be a reliable source for supplementing the farm income of an agriculturist. While it may not be commercially viable to grow forests in place of crops, in cultivated lands, yet forests can be profitable grown in the lands which are not fit for regular cultivation. Maintenance and preservation cost of forests are not as high as in the case of crops. Forests produce of the district, though useful for timber and furniture making and for various other purpose, do not make it self-sufficient in wood and wood products. There is hardly any industry in the district which runs entirely on raw material from forests.

The annual income from the sale of forest produce in the district from 1973-74 to 1977-78 was as under: -

Year	Major produce (Rs)	Minor produce (Rs)
1973-74	… 6,84,922	7,30,026
1974-75	… 5,25,119	5,80,451
1975-76	… 12,83,349	13,41,170
1976-77	… 8,96,612	9,71,051
1977-78	… 13,15,724	1,40,603

(Source: Divisional Forest Officer, Sangrur)