Ahmednagar District Profile

Ahmednagar is the biggest district of Maharashtra in terms of area and population.  The total geographical area of the district is 17.41 lakh ha. The net cropped area is 12,56,500 ha, out of which an area of 3,30,000 ha. (26.27 %) is under canal (84,000 ha) and well irrigation. About 9,26,500 ha.( 73.73 %) area is rain fed.  The area under Kharif crops is 4,60,000 ha. (36.6 per cent) while 7,58,000 ha (60.32 per cent) area is under Rabi crops.  A multiple cropping system is followed on 1,10,500 ha. area. A total of 8.73 per cent area of the district is under forest.

Soil Type

The soil types of the district are broadly divided into four categories namely coarse shallow soil; medium black soil; deep black soil and reddish soil occupying about 38, 41, 13 and 8 percent of the cultivated area respectively. In the first two categories, soil moisture is the predominant limiting factor affecting productivity of crops particularly under rainfed condition.

Rainfall and Temperature

The climate of the district is hot and dry, on whole extremely genial and is characterized by a hot summer and general dryness during major part of the year except during south-west monsoon season.

Ahmednagar district receives average 566 mm. rainfall. The major rainfall received during month of June to September. The average temperature ranges between 9 ⁰c (during Dec.) to 41 ⁰C (during April and May)

Water Resources

On an average 32.27 percent of the cultivated area is under irrigation, out of which 71.46 percent is under well irrigation (including lift irrigation) and remaining area is under canal irrigation. In the northern part of the district there are 3 major irrigation projects namely upper Godavari, Pravara and Mula having 2, 18 and 28 percent of the irrigated areas. In the south-western part of the district there are two command projects (namely Ghod & Kukadi) which are having 15 percent of the irrigated area. Besides this, there are 7 medium projects and 90 minor projects covering 16 and 5 percent of the total irrigated areas.

Agro Climatic Zones

Ahmednagar district is mainly recognized as multidimensional situation. District is divided into three agro climatic zones viz. Scarcity Zone, Plain (Transition) zone and  Ghat (Hilly) zone

A) Scarcity zone

This zone is occupied the whole district except one block i.e. Akole, the remaining 13 blocks are under this zone.

The average rainfall of this zone ranges from 500 to 700 mm received in 40 to 45 days. About 70-80per cent of annual rainfall is received during monsoon period (June to September).  Soil varies from reddish brown to dark gray and commonly grouped as light to medium black soil. In very few places deep black soil is also observed. Erratic nature of rainfall affects the moisture content in the soil, therefore, this zone is commonly known as drought prone area.

Cropping pattern: Major crops grown in this zone are pearl millet, sorghum, safflower, Bengal gram, wheat, sugarcane etc.

B) Plain (Transition) Zone

This zone is confined only to eastern part of Akole block. Geographically this zone has only 4% of the district area. The rainfall in this zone is 700 to 1250 mm annually which is well distributed. Soils are grayish black with varying texture and depth.

Cropping pattern: The main crops grown in this region are pearl millet, green gram, benegal gram and wheat. Due to irrigation facility, farmers are growing. Vegetables like tomato, gourds and fruit crops like pomegranate, mango  and Sugarcane

C) Ghat (Hilly) Zone

            This zone is situated in northwestern part of the district in western part of Akole block. Geographically this zone has only 4% of the district area. The rainfall in this zone is very high which ranges from 1500 to 3000 mm . The land is mostly covered with forest and sometimes acidic in nature having poor fertility with low phosphorus and potash contents.

Cropping pattern:  About 50 percent of the geographical area of this zone is under forest, The crops taken in kharif season are Paddy, Ragi, groundnut, pulses and Niger. The vegetables are also grown in paddy terraces on residual moisture.

Agro Ecological Situations (AES)

On the basis of soil types and sources of irrigation, the district has been categorized into eight Agro Ecological Situations viz. assured and unassured irrigation system in command area with medium and light soil and the rainfed area with black cotton, medium As well as light soils.

The existing farming systems being adopted by majority of farmers in rainfed area of district are characterizes by existence of food grain crops including mostly Bajra, Jowar as cereals and Mung, Udid, and Tur as pulse crops in combination with dairy and animal husbandry .     The analysis of the farming systems in command areas indicates the dominance of sugarcane as a cash crop with dairy as an inseparable combination and it is being supplemented by either vegetables and food grain crops or horticultural crops.

Enterprise wise district profile

Agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairying and non-farm activities are the enterprises predominantly existed in the district.

Area/Number and Productivity under Agriculture and Allied Enterprises

Socio-economic and Agriculture Situation in the District

Total population of the district is 40.88 lakhs of which 32.84 lakhs is living in the rural area whereas 8.04 lakhs lives in urban area.  The literacy of the district is 75.82 percent. The female to male ratio of the district is 941.

In the district, there are 6.8 lakh farming families, out of these 32.45 per cent farmers are having less than 2 ha land holding, 57.89 per cent farmers are having land holding between 2-10 ha. and 9.66 per cent farmers have a land holding with more than 10 ha.

      Total 3.8 lakhs are agriculture laborer, 7.88 lakhs are SC/ST population, 2.11 lakh are dairy and sheep owners and total working population is 14.32 lakh.

Co-operative Development in the District

            The district economy is mainly dependant on co-operative sector. Late Padmashree Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil started the first co-operative sugar factory in the district at Pravaranagar during the year 1949, which was the first of its kind in the Asian continent. Ahmednagar is a pioneer district in co-operative development and in upliftment of sugarcane cultivators through the sugar factories.  Similarly dairy co-operatives have also developed as a secondary movement for the benefit of the dairy farmers.            Fourteen co-operative sugar factories, 9310 co-operative societies, 1281 co-operatives dairy societies and 4 fruit and vegetable co-operative societies are the backbone of the district providing impetus to the rural economy.  The irrigation water co-operatives and transports co-operatives are also playing an important role in the district.  The problem related to credit inputs and marketing has been addressed to a great extent that has made the farming community free from the clutches of middlemen and private lenders through the dynamic leadership of the co-operative movement.

            Thus, co-operative sector in the district is dealing with all types of needs of the farming community, village prosperity and all-round socio-economic development of the district.

SWOT Analysis of the District

Based on prevailing agro-ecological situations, socio-economic status, livestock and other related factors about agriculture and allied enterprises, KVK has made SWOT analysis of Ahmednagar district.

The SWOT tool indicates the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Strengths

·        Highest geographical area of 17.00-lakh hectare

·        Fertile soils with different types of soil

·        Well irrigation facility (30 per cent) of the total cultivable area

·        Multiple cropping systems

·        Higher educational and literacy level (more than 60 per cent)

·        Hand working farming community

·        High aspiration towards adoption of new technologies

·        Well-developed co-operative sector

·        Well-established communication system

·        High cosmopolite nature of the farming community

·        Well leadership in agriculture

·        High potential for agro and agro based enterprise

Weaknesses

v     Maximum parts of district comes under drought prone area

v     Unassured irrigation in canal command area

v     Uneven distribution of rainfall

v     Fragmented land holding

v     Increase in area under saline alkaline soils.

v     High cost of production

v     Increasing rate of degradation in natural resources

v     Uncertainty in crop production due to different natural calamities

v     More gender divide in social set up resulting in poor participation of women

v     Less skill of entrepreneurship among rural youths related to agricultural and allied enterprises

v     High pressure of traditional folkways and norms among the farmwomen

v     Less knowledge about post harvest handling of agriculture produce

v     Low yield and productivity of crops and livestock

v     Unorganized farming community

Opportunities

·        Ample scope for utilization of raw material to promote agro based industries

·        in rural youth

·        Formulation of enterprise and commoditiwise groups

·        Establishment of credit mobilization based on SHG

·        Diversification in agriculture and other enterprises

·        Market driven extension to improve yield and quality of various commodities based on customer needs

·        Farmers driven research and extension through groups

·        Use of information technology

·        Communication for environment friendly technologies and concepts

·        Enhance application of user-friendly biotechnological options

Threats

• Small land holding sometimes affects the adoption of technologies

• Natural calamities, fluctuating price policies, hike in inputs costs influence in adoption of technologies

• Local political environment may affect the people’s participation in development process

• Attitudinal behavior may influence on continuation of technologies