Chapter IV AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATIONIrrigation

(a) Land reclamation and utilisation :

 (i) Cultivable waste : Area of such waste, difficulties in the way of its recovery and utilisation and measures taken to exploit them.

(ii) Clearing of forests and recovery of swamps, e.g., as in Sunderbans in Bengal, for agricultural purposes.

(iii) Measures to halt expansion of deserts by planned afforestation.

(b) Irrigation :

(i) Irrigation facilities : Rivers, dams and canals.  Lakes, tanks, tube-wells, wells and other sources of water-supply.  Degree of dependence on rainfall.  Area under wet and dry cultivation.

(ii) Protective bunds to protect crops : Soil erosion and silting.

(iii) Water Potential and possibilities of further exploitation.

(c) Agricutlure including Horticulture  :

          (i)   Soil and crops: Nature and variety of soils and their suitability for the cultivation of different crops.

   (ii)     Major and subsidiary crops including garden crops such as cocoanut, fruits and vegetables; seasons for each of the crops.  Area under cultivation and yield  during normal years.  Special features regarding mode of cultivation of particular crops. Unimportant crops may be mentioned in a passing way or ignored.

  (iii)     Changes in the area under different crops owing to the spread of irrigational facilities, requirements of modern economy, e.g., expansion in the cultivation of each crops such as cotton, jute and sugarcane.

  (iv)     Progress of scientific agriculture.

  (1)       Agricultural implements : Older types of implements and the extent to which they are used.  Use of simple machine tools which could normally be owned by individual cultivators.  Large-scale mechanization such as the use of tractors.

  (2)       Seeds and manure : Attention paid to the quality of seeds and seedlings in respect of different crops-nurseries.  Rotation of crops, leaving lands fallow, and other traditional modes of increasing fertility.  Use of composts, synthetic manures, etc.

  (3)       Agricultural diseases and pests : Traditional remedies.  Present-day scientific remedies and the extent to which they are popular.

  (4)       Activities of the Agricultural Department and other agencies to secure the use of scientific methods of cultivation suited to the  conditions of the country ; agricultural research centres and field stations, agricultural schools and colleges, model farms and shows, etc.

(d) Animal husbandry and fisheries :

       (i) Area under fodder crops.

       (ii) Dairy-farming, Pasteurisation and special schemes for the supply of milk in big towns.

      (iii) Sheep-breeding

      (iv) Poultry-farming

      (v) Fisheries

     (vi)  Measures to improve quality of breeds and to secure greater output; research centres, model farms, segregation of old animals, cattle fairs, etc.

     (vii)   Animal diseases and veterinary hospitals.

(e) Forestry :

     (i) Importance of forestry in the economy of the district.

    (ii) Forest produce ; principal products and their volume.

    (iii) Measures to secure scientific  exploitation and development; Research Centres, schools in forestry, etc.

 (f) State assistance to agriculture and connected subjects :

         Takkavi loans, loan for reclamation, subsidies, etc.

(g) Floods, famines and droughts :

         Brief historical sketch of their calamitous effect on agriculture and rural life and measures taken to arrest them.

Note : Particular attention may be paid to institutions formed for exploiting, on a large scale, agricultural, forest and animal husbandry resources, e.g., coffee and tea plantations.Special attention may also be paid to co-operation in the production and marketing of agricultural products.