Area under Cultivation

Geographical Area – 1563000 Hectors
Cultivable Area – 864000 Hectors
Average Kharip Crop Area – 663200 Hectors
Average Rabbi Crop Area – 136500 Hectors
Actual Sown Area – 658763 Hectors (99 %)
Forest Land - 340000 Hectors (21.75 %)

Uncultivable Area – 23000 Hectors (1.48 %)

Rainfall
Annual average rainfall – 1056.5 M.M.
June – October 2004 average rainfall – 1304.8 M.M. (124 %)

Supply of Fertilizers and Pesticides :
Since sufficient fertilizers and pesticides are available in open market, the same is not monitored by the agriculture Department. Farmers purchase fertilizers and Pesticides through PACs and private dealers. Liquid fertilizers required for horticultural crops are also available in the District. The Agriculture Department of the State Govt. has successfully experimented using Urea Briquettes for Paddy in tribal area. The Urea Briquettes release the Nitrogen slowly giving best result. It has been noticed that the paddy yield increases by 50 to 75 percent with use of Urea Briquettes.

The Companies manufacturing pesticides and fertilizers have very good net work of their dealers and sales personnel in the District. The MAIDC has it’s Regional Office in Nashik. They play major role in distribution of fertilizers, pesticides and animal feed.

Farm Demonstration
The subject matter specialist of Agriculture Department arranges Farm Demonstration plot of the different crops in different plots of Districts . Farmers ‘ visits to such farms are aarnged by them to take to take technology from laboratory to the farm. Educational tours of farmers are also arranged to visit Agriculture College and Research Institutes. Yashvantrao Chavan Open University also carry out farm experiments through Krishi Vikas Kendra (KVK) for latest technology and disseminate the knowledge to the farmers under ICAR project.

Apart from above efforts from the Government , Companies dealing with fertilizers and pesticides arrange farm demonstrations as a part of promotional activities.

HORTICULTURE:

The Horticulture Department now since merged in Agriculture Department due to the concept of Single Window, the nurseries at various places in the District is managed by the Agriculture Department. These nurseries raise saplings and supply to the farmers under Horticulture Development scheme. The Department have nurseries at Chadwad(Mango, Pomegranate), Pimpalgaon Baswant (Guava), Sakora (Chiku), Dindori, Yeola, Nilgavan and Ravalgoan. All these nurseries have supplied saplings during 2000-2001 more than the targets and they have sufficient arrangements for 2001-2002.

The State Agriculture Department makes arrangement for issuance of Certificate to the exporters about chemical residues in the grape fruits. During 2000 grape season the Department has issued certificates for export of 321 containers (4650 MT.). The certificates are issued after examination of laboratory reports. No container has been rejected by the importing country.

Crop Protection
Due to various disease infections to crop, number of farmers uses the pesticides and other chemical pestisides. For this purpose, Agriculture Officers in district implements various schemes to provide the subsidy for purchasing the pesticides and other chemicals. Also for protection to Orange crops due to Kolshi disease, Deputy Director, Horticulture implements Immunization Schemes.

Facility of Storage for Agricultural Products and Controlled Market places
In Nashik district, Various Tahasils have the Agriculture Products Market Centers (APMC) which provides the facility to the farmers for Marketing and storage of their products with proper values. In district, there are Godowns of Maharashtra State Godown Corporation.

Land Development
Land development work is carried out through regional Soil Conservation officers in district by blocking the water, keeping the level at hilly area etc. In spite of that, Revenue department provides the economic support for land development to land acquired peoples who got extra land. Also for land development purpose, economical support provided to selected Schedule Casts peoples under Special Group Scheme by District Agriculture Development Officer. Land-Development Bank, Nationalize Banks provides loan to the less land holder farmers for well development and for increase the facilities of irrigation

Other Development Program
Follows are various programs implementing under District Annual Planning for agriculture development purpose: 1) To decrease the loan loading, 33 % of average subsidy is providing on the bank loan. Government have stared the Krishi Pandhari Yojana for un-irrigated land development purpose, . From each Tahasils, further finalizes the villages which have major un-irrigated land and gives the benefits of these schemes to the farmers of that villages.2) Under the Integrated Village development Scheme, provides support to sanction the loan from Nationalized and other banks to construct or reconstruct the well or buy the electric water pump or bullock cart or bulls and on that loan at least 25 to 33 percent rebate is provided by the District Rural Development Agency. 3) Provides the rebate on increased prizes on chemical fertilizers for the small land holders. 4) Provides the financial support for pesticides. 5) Traditional oil seeds development program.

Following few Schemes are sponsored by Central as well as State Government through Panchayat Samities under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Sugarcane Development
     Crop Protection Pesticides on 25% subsidy
     Gypsum Rs. 800% per Metric Ton

National Oil Seed and Pulses Development Program.
     Crop protection equipments on 50 % subsidy.
     Sprinkler sets on 50% subsidy to reserve category.
     Gypsum available on subsidy Rs.500/- per Metric Ton.
     Farm implements on 50% subsidy to Rs.1500/- per implementation.
     P.S.B. packets are available on 50% subsidy.

Integrated Cereals Development Program.
     Seed Manikins – Seed Manikins of improved varieties are provided with 30% subsidy.
     30% to 50% subsidy on Improved Automatic as well as manual Agricultural implements.
     Automatic or manual implements and crop protection equipments on 50% subsidy.
     Utilization of Gypsum 400 KG per Hector for Rs. 500/-
     Sprinkler sets on 50% subsidy to S.C., S.T., Women and 25% subsidy for other farmers.

Integrated Cotton Development Program.
     Improved Seeds i.e. Mahabij, NSC etc. on 50% subsidy per Quintal.
     Crop Protection Equipments on 50% subsidy
     Sprinkler set for all categories on 25% subsidy