 |
AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION |
 |
FIBRES
THE TOTAL AREA UNDER FIBRES PLANTS was hardly one
per cent, of the gross cropped area in 1955-56. The following table
gives the distribution of acreage under various fibres in Kolhapur
district:-
TABLE No. 23.
AREA IN ACRES UNDER
FIBRES IN EACH TALUKA OF KOLHAPUR DISTRICT IN 1955-56.
|
Taluka |
Cotton (Variety-wise). |
Sann- Hemp (Bombay Hemp). |
Ambadi (Deccan Hemp). |
Ghayal. |
Other Fibres. |
Total Fibres. |
|
Ajara |
23 |
-- |
145 |
-- |
-- |
168 |
|
Bavada |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Bhudargad |
41 |
-- |
11 |
-- |
-- |
52 |
|
Gadhinglaj |
1,744 |
179 |
205 |
-- |
-- |
2,128 |
|
Hatkanangle |
1,237 |
155 |
8 |
-- |
-- |
1,400 |
|
Kagal |
837 |
38 |
59 |
1 |
-- |
935 |
|
Karvir |
20 |
127 |
122 |
-- |
-- |
278 |
|
Panhala |
19 |
122 |
11 |
-- |
-- |
152 |
|
Radhanagari |
-- |
-- |
5 |
-- |
-- |
5 |
|
Shahuwadi |
-- |
-- |
5 |
-- |
2 |
7 |
|
Shirol |
4,943 |
18 |
22 |
-- |
-- |
4,983 |
|
District Total |
8,873 |
639 |
593 |
-- |
2 |
10,108 |
Kapashi.
Kapashi (cotton) occupied eighty per cent, of
the total area under fibres in 1955-56 in the district. The talukas
growing this crop on a large scale are Shirol, Kagal, Gadhinglaj and
Hatkanangle. The area under cotton has decreased much since the
compilation of the last Gazetteer. Cotton is grown in the district
as a mixed crop with chillies. It is sown in August: picking starts
in December-January. The variety grown is the improved
Jayadhar, The long staple variety of cotton, namely,
Rajpalayam has been introduced in Shirol, Hatkanangle and
Gadhinglaj talukas.
Ambadi.
Ambadi (Deccan Hemp) is grown almost all over the
district on a small scale. Gadninglaj, Ajra and Kagal talukas are
major producers. It is sown in June-July and harvested in December.
The bark of ambadi plant yields good fibre which is used for
making ropes. The tender leaves of the plant find an extensive use
as a pot-herb and vegetable.
Tag.
Tag (sann-hemp), though a fibre crop, is
grown in the district specially for green manuring of the fields.
Most of the area under this crop was in Gadhinglaj, Hatkanangle,
Karvir and Panhala talukas in 1955-56. It is sown in June-July and
harvested in September. As a green manure, the crop is buried in the
ground by plough when it is about five weeks old or when it just
starts flowering.
Sann.
Sann fibres are at their best when the plants
are flowering and when the setting of pods commences. The stalks are
either cut close to the round with sickles or are uprooted. They are
exposed for a few days on the bunds of the fields, when the leaves
are stripped off and then they are ready for retting. The stalks are
tied in bundles and placed upright in water for three or four days.
Since the bark on the butt ends is thicker than on the upper portion
of the plant, the former need a longer time to ret. The bundles are
then horizontally submerged in water with the help of some weight
like stones, etc. Retting to be complete requires about seven to ten
days, depending on the condition of water and weather. If the stalks
are retted for longer time than the required period, the fibres lose
their strength and colour. | 
