AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT, FRUITS ARE GROWN on a very small scale and occupied hardly one per cent, of gross cropped area in 1955-56. A few fruit gardens of banana and guava are seen mainly in the eastern portion. A few permanent gardens of mangoes and cashewnuts can also be seen. The following table shows the distribution of area under fruits in the district in 1955-56: -

TABLE No. 24.

AREA IN ACRES UNDER FRESH FRUITS, CASHEWNUT AND OTHER DRY FRUITS IN EACH TALUKA

OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.

Banana and guava are the common fruits of the district. Most of the fruits are grown throughout the district on irrigated garden lands, though production is concentrated in Gadhinglaj, Hatkanangle and Shirol talukas.

Kele.

Kele (Banana) is a very popular fruit of the district. Hatkanangle, Shirol and Gadhinglaj talukas are the major producers. Banana is grown on good garden, medium black soil which is at least two feet deep. It is propagated by suckers which are planted in June-July. After the rains are over, the plants are irrigated at intervals of 10-12 days, depending on moisture in the soil, and at intervals of a week in the hot season. The plants are manured once a year at the rate of one to two basket-full of farm yard manure per plant. The district grows mainly the Walha variety. Of the other varieties grown, velchi is taken as a mixed crop in betel vines; a few plants of mhas-keles, used for vegetable purposes, are also planted in the gardens.

Amba.

Amba (mango) is cultivated throughout the district as a fruit crop on waste lands. The mango of Ajra is a well-known variety. The mango groves planted and developed at the instance of the late Jahagirdar of Ichhalkaranji also need a particular mention. Besides the well-known varieties of Alphonso (opus) and payari, there are other important local varieties also. The mango plant bears fruits after ten years, if it is propogated from the mango stone, and after five years, if it is propagated vegetatively by grafting. For its good growth watering is essential for the first three years. Regular manuring is also equally good for its growth and regular fruiting. Flowering starts by the beginning of December and ends by January. There are three flowering flushes in mango. The fruit is ready for harvest in April-May.

Peru.

Peru (Guava) is grown mostly in Shirol taluka though Hatkanangle and Karvir talukas also grow it to some extent. Guava trees begin to bear fruit when about four to five years old. There are two flowering seasons. The fruits of the first season ripen in August-September and those of the second in November-December. The local variety is most common though attempts are being made to extend the area under Lucknow-49 variety.

Papai.

Papai (papaya) is grown as an inter-crop in banana cultivation. It is planted either along the borders or in-between the two rows of banana plants. Papaya is propogated by seedlings. Seedlings are raised on seed beds. Seedlings are transplanted in September-October six to eight inches apart. Two seedlings are planted at one place. This is because usually about fifty per cent, of the plants turn out to be males and hence it is necessary to plant two plants. These male plants are useless except as pollenisers and hence only a few male plants are retained in the orchard. The rest are removed as soon as the sex is ascertained. The trees begin to flower after about six to eight months of planting and fruiting begins after about a year. The life of the plant is about three years. A papaya tree, on an average, yields about 30 lbs. of papayas. The ripe fruit is eaten while the unripe fruit is used as a vegetable.

Citrus Fruits.

In Kolhapur district the area under citrus fruits is almost insignificant. The varieties grown are sweet oranges (mosambi) and lime (kagadi limbu) and Italian lemon at various places. Citrus trees are usually planted on medium black or light loamy soil. As they are very sensitive to poor drainage, they are not planted in soils which are either highly moisture retentive (like deep black soils) or are likely to become water-logged. Seedling of Jamburi are raised for about a year in the nursery beds. The budded plants are transplanted in orchards during the monsoon season. The distance between the two plants depends upon the variety and varies from 15 to 20 feet. The trees are irrigated regularly at an interval of 10 to 15 days, depending upon the season. The plantations are treated either for ambe or mrig behar.

Kaju.

Kaju (cashew-nut) is grown mostly in Gadhinglaj taluka. It thrives well in laterite soil. It is grown from seed (nut) planted in situ. The roots when young are very sensitive and do not stand transplanting. The plant bears fruits after six to eight years. Flowering starts in November-December and fruits are ready for harvest in March-April, yielding on an average about 10 lbs. of nuts per plant.

Miscellaneous.

Besides these, the district grows other fruits like pine-apple, ramphal, sitaphal, chiku and grapes, though on a very small scale. Some of them are grown by persons who have taken to fruit gardening as a hobby. Ananas (pine-apple) is grown on a very small scale as it thrives well only in hot moist climate. Ramphal (bullock's heart) is grown mainly in garden lands as a border plant and near homesteads. Sitaphal (custard apple) has only one season, namely, during August-December. It is grown as a border plant. Draksha (grapes) does not thrive well though attempts are being made to grow this fruit in the district. The climate of eastern zone is said to be more suitable for this crop. A plot of about 10 gunthas in Koulav village in Radhanagari taluka is under this fruit crop. Only one variety, namely, bhokri is grown in the district.

Kolhapur district is not self-sufficient as regards vegetables which accounted for a very small area of the gross cropped area in the district. The following table shows the distribution of the acreage under vegetables in the district In 1955-56: -

TABLE No. 25.
AREA IN ACRES UNDER VEGETABLES IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.

Most of the shortage of vegetables is made good by imports from Belgaum. district and at times from Poona district. Besides the local varieties grown, a few foreign varieties, namely, cabbage, cauliflower, lattuce and knolkhol have been also introduced and have become quite popular in the district, particularly in parts of Karvir, Radhanagari, and Shahuwadi talukas.

Roots and Tubers.

The following seven root and tuber vegetables are grown in the district:-

Ratale.

Ratale (sweet potato) is the most important root vegetable grown in the district. Ratale, grown here, is of two varieties, namely, red and white. The white variety is more popular. Sweet potatoes can be grown at any time of the year. They are ready for harvest in about 6 month's time. Cuttings from vines of previous year are used for propogation. The crop needs heavy manuring and constant irrigation. The root is eaten green, boiled, or roasted on fasting days. The leaves are used as green fodder for cattle. Ratale is also imported in the district on large scale from Belgaum district.

Kanda.

Kanda (onion) is grown in good black soil in the district.  It requires heavy manuring and watering. Red and white varieties are grown, the latter being more popular in the district. Onion seeds are sown on raised seedbeds to raise seedlings. Seedlings are ready in about, a month's time for transplanting. They are transplanted on the slopes of the furrows. At the time of transplanting, there is standing water in the plot. Transplanting is done in November-December and the field is watered every week. In about 3-4 months time, the crop is ready for harvest. Onion is eaten almost by all classes both raw and otherwise. It is almost a necessity of the poorer classes. Tender leaves are eaten as a pot herb.

Batata.

Batata (potato) is grown on a very small area in the district under irrigation. Heavy manuring is necessary. Potato sets are planted in October-November. The crop is ready between January and February. It is watered as and when required. The district grows numbri (local variety) and red (from Belgaum) varieties. Potatoes are also imported from Belgaum and other districts to meet the local needs.

Gajar.

Gajar (carrot) is grown in good black soil on a small scale in the district. The crop needs manuring and watering. It is grown in garden lands in rabi season and is ready for use in about three months' time. The root is eaten as a vegetable, both raw and boiled. It is also used as a concentrate to feed plough and milch cattle.

Mula.

Mula (radish) is grown on a very small scale throughout the year, particularly in bagayat lands, as a catch crop. It is harvested in about two months time. If harvesting is delayed, the plant begins to bear pods, called dingris. The roots, leaves and pods are used as a vegetable.

Suran.

Suran (elephant's foot) is grown in the western zone of the district as a backyard crop. The crop takes about three years for its full growth. The corm is used as a vegetable. However, this vegetable is not much popular.

Karanda.

Karanda is a bulb-bearing yam and resembles the common yam. It is grown in the western zone in backyards of houses. The flesh of the bulb has a slight bitter taste, which lessens on boiling.

The district also grows twelve fruit vegetables though not on a large scale.' Among these vegetables brinjal, cabbage and tomato are prominent.

Vange.

Vange (brinjal) occupies the highest acreage not only under fruit vegetables but under all vegetables grown in the district. It is grown on rich soils, often on river banks in rabi season after floods are over. In the gardens, it is grown throughout the year. It is an irrigated crop and requires considerable manuring also. Seedlings are prepared in seed beds and are transplanted after about six weeks. The crop gets ready after two months and harvesting continues for two months thereafter. It is a very common fruit vegetable and is consumed in the district throughout the year. Important varieties grown in the district are: green round small brinjal (dorli), big but entirely green in colour, and purple.

Belvange.

Belvange (tomato) is grown as a field crop only in four talukas. It requires heavy manuring, irrigation and constant care. Seedlings are prepared on raised seedbeds and, when four weeks old, are transplanted in October-November in the lands laid out in ridges and furrows. It is also grown in hot season if sufficient watering facilities are available. It is a very favourite vegetable with the people, particularly with those in urban areas. The raw fruit is used as a vegetable while the ripe one is eaten like a fruit.

Kobi.

Kobi (cabbage) is a much valued cold season foreign vegetable grown in the district. It is becoming more and more popular. Cabbage leaves are fed to the cattle and the heads are used as a vegetable.

Dodka.

Dodka (ridge gourd) is grown in the district in the rich lands which form the edges of other garden crops. It is rarely grown as a single crop. In the gardens, it is grown at any time of the year. In dry crop lands, it is grown in June-July. The plant begins to bear fruit in two months' time after planting and continues to bear for nearly two months more. The fruit is dark-green in colour and its length varies from six inches to eighteen inches. It is seemed with sharp ridges from one end to the other. The fruit is used as a vegetable. The skin and the ridges are used in Chutneys.

Dudhya Bhopla.

Dudhya Bhopla (bottle gourd) is a creeping plant and is grown in garden lands round the edges of the crop. Under irrigation it is also grown as an entire crop mixed with cucumbers. It begins to bear in two-three months' time. The fruit is yellowish-green and has a soft white flesh. It varies in length from 12" to 30". It is a very common vegetable. It is also utilised in preparing a sweet-meat called dudhi-halva.

Ghosale.

Ghosale (smooth-gourd) is grown and used like dodka. A ghosale is six to ten inches in length and is smooth and marked length-wise with lines. It yields heavily and continues to bear for two years, if constant irrigation is given.

Kalingad.

Kalingad (water melon) is the fruit of a creeper. It is sown in hot months and requires irrigation. The plants are manured when they are six weeks' old. The fruit ripens in the third or fourth month. The fruit is smooth and round, dark-green and striped with light green. The flesh is pink, very soft and watery and the seeds black and white. It is generally eaten raw.

Karle.

Karle (bitter gourd) is a small fruit and grown and used like dodka and ghosale. The surface of the fruit is roughened with knobs and each seed fills the whole cross section of the fruit. The fruit is used as a vegetable. It tastes bitter and, therefore, must be well cooked and spiced before eating.

Kartoli.

Kartoli is a wild gourd, but it is quite a favourite vegetable. It is grown in the western hilly tracts of the district.

Kashi-bhopla.

Kashi-bhopla or kashi-phal is grown in gardens and in backyards. Except that it is roundish and thick instead of being long, the fruit is just like dudhya-bhopla.

Kakdi.

Kakdi or valuk (cucumber) is grown in garden lands as a border crop. It is sown in June-July. The fruit is generally green and six inches long. The variety grown in rabi and hot season is dark-green in colour with longitudinal white stripes. It varies in length from eight inches to twenty inches. It is generally eaten as a raw fruit.

Tondli.

Tondli (little gourd) is a common vegetable. It is a wild creeper and grown as a field crop. It is a perennial crop and the tondli vine grows vigorously for about five years. The tondli fruit is used as a vegetable.

Pod Vegetables.

The district grows the following five, pod vegetables:-

Abai.

Abai, a creeping plant, needs little water or manure for its growth. It is grown in the backyards of homesteads or on the edges of garden lands. It begins to bear fruits in three months' time and, in good soil, continues to bear fruits for three to four years. The pod, when young and tender, is used as a vegetable.

Bhendi.

Bhendi (lady's finger) is grown in this district as a cash crop in garden crops. The variety gown is a local one with four edges and a length of about six - inches to ten inches. The variety of smaller bhendis is grown as an entire field crop on a very small scale, The green pods are used as a vegetable, either boiled or fried. The ripe seeds of bhendi are used in curry and chutney. Water steeped with green bhendi plants is used in gul making (to remove the scum) on a large scale.

Gavari.

Gavari is grown in gardens at any time and during the rains on the borders of the crops like chillies. It begins to bear pods in three months' time and, if watered occasionally, goes on bearing for some months. The plant grows about three feet high with a single fibrous stem from which the pods grow in bunches. The pod is used as a vegetable.

Ghevada.

Ghevada is grown with or without water in June-July on the edges of dry crops. It begins to bear fruit in about three and a half months time and goes on bearing till January. As an irrigated crop, it is grown around garden crops or in the yards and porches of houses.

Shravan Ghevada.

Shravan Ghevada (french beans) is grown in the district, both for seeds and vegetables. When grown for vegetables, it is sown as a catch crop in garden crops. When it is taken for seed purposes, it is sown as a mixed crop in dry crops in June-July. The green pods, when tender, are used as a vegetable.

Leafy Vegetables.

Kolhapur district grows about a dozen leafy vegetables which are quite favourite with all classes of people.

Ambadi.

Ambadi is grown in garden lands for vegetable purposes at any time of the year. After six weeks of planting, tender leaves are produced in abundance. These are plucked and used as a vegetable.

Chandanbatva.

Chandanbatva is grown on garden lands at any time of the year. The plant stands about a foot high and has got red leaves at the apical portion. The leaves and tender stems are eaten as a pot herb.

Chakvat.

Chakvat is grown in other garden crops as a mixed crop Before watering the land, the seeds are broadcast by hand. The plant bears good pulpy leaves just like chuka. The Leaves are used as a vegetable.

Chavli.

Chavli is grown in garden at any time of the year. It closely resembles tandulja but seldom grows more than six inches in height. The leaves and stem are uniformly green.

Chuka.

Chuka (bladder-dock) is grown in gardens at any time of the year, and is ready for use in about a month after sowing. The plant is eaten as a pot herb.

Karadi.

Karadi is grown in garden lands, especially for vegetable purposes. It is grown at any time of the year. Karadi leaves are grown often five or six weeks after sowing the seed.

Math.

Math grown in the districts is of two varieties, red and green. Both varieties are grown in garden at any time of the year and are ready for use five to six weeks after sowing. The red variety stands three to five feet high with a thick stem and has a small central plume as well as side flowers. The leaves, and especially the stem, have a red tinge. The green variety is smaller. The leaves and the shoots are eaten boiled. The wild variety called kate-math grows naturally and is eaten by poor people.

Methi.

Methi (fenugreek) is grown in gardens, at any time of the year, all over the district. It is always an irrigated and manured crop and is usually ready to be cut in about three weeks' time and gets matured in two and a half months. When young, the entire plant is eaten as a pot herb by all classes.

Pokla.

Pokla of two kinds, red and green, grows one or two feet high in gardens at any time of the year. The leaf is ready for use in six weeks' time and is eaten as a pot herb.

Pudina.

Pudina (mint) is grown in garden lands. It is a perennial crop grown along the water channels in garden lands. The leaves are used as a garnish.

Rajgira.

Rajgira is of two varieties, red and green. It is grown in gardens at any time of the year. It is grown in the turmeric crop, as a mixed-crop, for seed purposes. It grows about three to five feet high and has a heavy over-hanging central plume. The seed is exceedingly small and is usually trodden out by human feet or rubbed out by hand. It is usually eaten on fasting days either as lahi which is made into balls or as cakes made after mixing in hot jaggery syrup. The leaves are eaten as a pot herb.

Tandulja.

Tandulja is grown in gardens at any time of the year and is fit for use five or six weeks after sowing. The plant grows a foot high and has its stem near the root. It has no seed plume but flowers on each of its side shoots. Only the leaves and top shoots are eaten as a pot herb.

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