Impact of Environmental Problems on Cultivation of Pomegranate in Dhule District (M.S.)

Transcription

1 Impact of Environmental Problems on Cultivation of Pomegranate in Dhule District (M.S.) Ahire S. C. Research Scholar, N.M.U. Jalgaon. - Dr. Suryawanshi D. S. Research Guide & Director, ACEES, NMU, Jalgaon (M.S.) - rediffmail.com Suryawanshi Shubham D. - B. Tch. (Civil & Environmental) VJTI, Matunga, Mumbai Abstract: India has a great diverse agricultural systems as well as it posse s rich agricultural resources different geographical, social, economic, and technological factors have resulted into agricultural typologies an intensives commercial cultivation of banana, onions, sugarcane. Fruit gardening is taking new shape in the Indian agriculture due to technological changes, transportation and communication facilities and global markets. So the area under pomegranate cultivation is increasing since 2000 very rapidly. Pomegranate Cultivation is an intensive commercial type of agriculture can be studied under Geography of fruit farming. Pomegranate is high value crop. Entire tree of pomegranate is of great economic significance. The aim of the present paper has to study the environmental problems affecting pomegranate cultivation. Primary data is collected through questionnaire and interviews of pomegranate growers. Three hundred twenty eight pomegranate growers distributed in 36 villages are selected on stratified random sampling method Earlier discussions in preceding study revealed that pomegranate fruit crop has been successfully cultivated in study region from last two decades. But it was also noticed during field survey that there is reduction in its area so as some of the growers were observed to cutting down or recently uprooted their pomegranate orchards. Most of growers do not posses knowledge about soil testing practices i.e. to collect the samples and understanding the results. The usual technique is to collect soil samples from different parts of the pomegranate orchard. Obviously there is no guarantee that soil sample will adequately represent the orchard area and sampling spots are located in intense root activity from which a tree gathers its mineral nutrition. It was mainly due to the geographical and other factors. Consequently growth of pomegranate cultivation in study area was found to be hampered by all such environmental problems those have enough potentials to drastically reduce the yields or productions. The nutrient requirement of pomegranate trees varies according to variety, age of orchard and type of soil. Improper fertilizer application results into unbalanced nutrient management that not only deteriorates orchard s soils but also leads to increase production expenses of individual pomegranate grower. Key words: Drought prone, IMD, Hail Storm, Topography 1. Introduction Fruit gardening is taking new shape in the Indian agriculture due to technological changes, transportation and communication facilities and global markets. So the area under pomegranate cultivation is increasing since 2000 very rapidly. Pomegranate Cultivation is an intensive commercial type of agriculture can be studied under Geography of fruit farming. Pomegranate is high value crop. Entire tree of pomegranate is of great economic significance. Apart from its demand for fresh fruit and juice, the processed products like wine and syrup are also gaining importance in world trade. In World total area under pomegranate cultivation is more than 1.2 million hectares. Major countries are India ranking 1st covering nearly 1.5 lake hectares area is under cultivation while Spain ranks 2nd having 1.2 lake hectares and Iran is 3rd about hectares. The continuous adoption was found towards putting more area under its cultivation by the growers. The environmental problems are complex in nature and associated with risk and uncertainty in pomegranate farming. Hence there is genuine need for a systematic analysis of various aspects of > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 54

2 problems and their management by pomegranate growers which deserves the attention of researcher. This assumes particular significance for fruit farming in drought prone regions like study area which is more often affected by various types of weather and hosts of other risks and uncertainties. So that causes decrease in income of the growers consequently degrading the standards of living those affected. Despite of technological and economical advancements the condition of intensive commercial fruit farmers like pomegranate growers continues to be unstable due to broad range of production constraints. On one hand some of them are common problems, on the other hand they are faced at individual level. Different from this, the problems are related to various aspects viz. natural, socioeconomic, technological, institutional factors involved in pomegranate cultivation. Therefore due to complex and diversified problems and constraints it was difficult to classify those using single criteria. Hence the present study deals with the environmental problem in sequential order and to know the cause and effect relationship in between the problems. Some suggestions have been given to cope with the problems. 2. Study Area: The shape of the study area is triangular. It is located in the northern part of the Maharashtra State. It has occupied over an area of sq. km. It is extended from N to N latitudes and from E to l E longitudes (Fig. No.1). the study area is bordered by the districts, Jalgaon to the east, Nasik to the south, Gujarat State and Nandurbar district to west. Satpura ranges presented to the north of the study area. Because of the Satpura ranges Dhule district is separated from Madhya Pradesh State, while Satmala ranges separate the district from western Maharashtra. Dhule district contributes 2.62 percent total geographical area of the Maharashtra State. As per the 2011 Census, the population of Dhule district is 2,048, 781. The density of population is 285 persons per sq. km. 3. Objectives: 1. To search the environmental problems from which the pomegranate growers. 2. To understand the cause - effect of pomegranate cultivation. 3. To suggest the mitigating problems & its cultivation practices. 4. Hypothesis: 1. Environmental factors affect on the pomegranate cultivation in the study area. > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 55

3 5. Database and Methodology: The present study is the geographical analysis for which sample survey method has been used. Primary data is collected through questionnaire and interviews. Three hundred twenty eight > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 56

4 pomegranate growers distributed in 36 villages were selected based on stratified random sampling method. Based on the responses obtained from the grower s problems are separately for small, medium and large categories of the respondents. The simple statistical techniques and correlations method has been use to find out the pomegranate concentration region in the study area. Their cause and effect relationship is discussed in detail. Subsequently remedies adopted by respondents & to solve the problems are described. 6. Results & discussion: Although cultural practices varieties and seasons of pomegranate fruit production are almost same in the study area. But as per time, weather conditions and soil conditions are sufficiently variable to affect the yield and quality of pomegranates. In context to natural factors the respondents stated some of the problems those are discussed one by one as below. The extremities in weather conditions that include high temperatures, heavy rains, high humidity, strong winds, and hailstorms prevailed during cropping season or bahar period were reported to either lower down the yield of pomegranate orchards or spoiled the total crops High Temperature- The maximum temperatures during summer season in some pomegranate growing regions of study area like Dhule and Shindkheda tahsils during months of April & May are often recorded between 42 C to 44.5 C. Such strong sunrays in this drier parts of study area leads to moisture losses not only from the fruits, but also orchard soils. This problem of high temperatures during summer season was expressed by 47% respondents. In order to know the causes of very high temperatures in above parts of study region requires further micro level climatologically studies Uncertain Rainfall - The sampled pomegranate growers to the extent of 56 % stated losses caused to their orchards due to erratic nature of monsoon rainfall. It is the dominant single weather element that affects on the yield of pomegranate orchard and respondents were found to suffer from both extremities i.e. low as well as high rainfall amounts. The study region is already located in drought prone region of the state that is also not exception to scantiness, concentration, variability, and unreliability characteristic features of monsoon rainfall. Moreover uneven distribution of monsoon rainfall both over the time and space results into the problem of its extremities. And any large variation in amounts of rainfall becomes more critical problems for pomegranate cultivars Hail Storm - Apart from extremities in weather conditions, the 51% sampled pomegranate growers were also reported to suffer from natural disasters. The cyclonic storm namely Phayan on 10th & 11th November 2009 caused widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls occurred over Goa, Konkan, central Maharashtra According to IMD, the amount of daily rainfall recorded in study region has high to 7 cms & 5cms on 10th & 11th November 2009 respectively. While the maximum wind speed recorded on the same day was between kms per hour. The hailstorm prevailed over half an hour leaved half foot thick sheets of ice pellets over the fields caused damage to standing crops and roots. In study area, Sakri, Dhule and Shindkheda tahsils were affected severely than others. According to RRD the output of pomegranate fruits in Sholapur, Nasik and Dhule districts are declined to % due to damage caused to matured fruits by unexpected rainfall. According IMD, the deep depression was formed on 9th November 2009 over southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea. The Cyclonic Storm, named Phyan moved north Eastwards and crossed Maharashtra Coast between Alibagh and Mumbai. The deep depression over north central Maharashtra weaken into a depression and remained practically stationary and lay centered at 23:30 hrs IST of 11th November, 2009 close to Dhule district. It is likely to move northeastwards and weaken gradually Unfavorable Topography - Despite of the fact that undulated terrains are not suitable for orchards but during field survey it was noticed that few pomegranate orchards in sampled villages namely Kalgaon, Kakani, Vitai, Behed Masdi, Umbharti, Virkhel (Sakri) Deur, Nandre, Lonkhedi > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 57

5 Arvi (Dhule) and (Shindkheda tahsil) were raised on at the foothills hill slopes, rolling slopes, troughs etc. The contour planting method was adopted on rolling slopes or hillsides where some terracing was also done. As such planting arrangements made it possible for the growers to produce pomegranate fruits from the land that otherwise left as barren. However about 39% respondents faced difficulties while performing cultural operations for their pomegranate orchards planted on such unsuitable terrains. Even though flat land with gentle slopes and good drainage facility forms the best site for pomegranate orchards. But looking into the remunerative returns from pomegranate orchards, the growers attempted to bring more and more land under cultivation whatever the type of land owned by them. The wide soil adoptability of pomegranate trees also made it possible for growers to make use of even barren and waste slopes under pomegranate farming. Besides this, most of the pomegranate growers belong to marginal and small category farmers having very limited land resources with good fertile soils. However this fruit crop provided good opportunity for them to expand their holdings by making use of their previously uncultivable lands Unsuitable Soils- The pomegranate orchards in study area are grown on widely ranging soil characteristics from heavy black cotton soils to very light soils. However according to Edward Raja medium types of soils are suitable for the pomegranate. The interviews with respondents also proved the fact about 41% sampled growers stated the problem of unfavorable soils of their orchards and as a major cause for unsatisfactory yields since they failed to realize optimum returns from their orchards. Despite of the fact that pomegranate trees performs well in medium to light well drained soil types about 21% respondents were found to planted their orchards into heavy black cotton soils. That is firstly because of remunerative returns realized by innovative growers also attracted other farmers for the plantation of this crop. Secondly the particular type of soil for owned land holdings of growers is a natural factor that can be altered 6.6. Problems in Soil Testing- It is clear from the responses of interviewed pomegranate growers that very less respondents tested the orchard s soil regularly at least once in a year. Although the soil testing can be valuable in identifying the nutrient requirement of pomegranate orchards but most of growers were not aware of its importance before applying fertilizers to their orchards. In context to this, sampled growers faced few constraints as tabulated below. Table No. 1: Distribution of Growers According to Constraints Toward Soil Testing Practices. Sr. Statements of Constraints No of Percentages no. Growers 1 Soil testing facility is not readily available Lack of knowledge of about soil sample collection Soil testing reports were necessary for subsidy Result of soil testing from private labs are unreliable Different soil reports for same soil samples Soil testing is wastage of time and money Source: Computed by researchers, 2014 Usually the facilities for soil- water analysis are not easily available for the pomegranate growers in rural areas. There are only four soil laboratories in study area located at Dhule and Shirpur Tahsil headquarters, Most of growers do not posses knowledge about soil testing practices i.e. to collect the samples and understanding the results. The usual technique is to collect soil samples from different parts of the pomegranate orchard. However soil lab technicians were of opinion that growers do not collect samples properly randomly only two or more depths are sampled. Obviously there is no guarantee that soil sample will adequately represent the orchard area and sampling spots are located in intense root > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 58

6 activity from which a tree gathers its mineral nutrition. Therefore, even after following recommended doses of fertilizers as per the soil lab reports the pomegranate production would not increase. 7. Conclusions 1. The high temperature causes excessive loss of water from orchards when it is in more shortage i.e. during summer season. Consequently the moisture stress to pomegranate orchards results into physiological disorders like cracking or splitting of fruits and internal breakdown of arils. The respondents to the extent of 29% were found to suffer from the problem of this type of disorder. 2. About 48% respondents stated the problem of low amounts of annual rainfall creates drought like situation. As a result, the growers were facing the problem in availability of water to irrigate the orchards. 3. Most of the pomegranate growers would have been suffered from direct or indirect losses due to heavy rains coupled with hails and strong winds. 4. Pomegranate growers have been struggling with one challenge after another. Most of the growers faced severe yield losses they were not only wasted their moneys made for production inputs but also unable to repay short and long term agriculture loans. Moreover, it also disturbed their future financial planning so as faced severe financial constraints for inputs required for next cropping season. 5. The genuine problem of selection of orchard sites on unleveled surfaces stated by above respondents was controlling of soil erosion caused by heavy rains. 6. The practice of utilizing waste and barren slopes increased the cost of plantation as well as production of pomegranates. 7. Heavy soils with poor drainage conditions are unsuitable for its cultivation. Finally affects on growth of trees and unsatisfactory yield from orchards. 8. The nutrient requirement of pomegranate trees varies according to variety, age of orchard and type of soil. Improper fertilizer application results into unbalanced nutrient management that not only deteriorates orchard s soils but also leads to increase production expenses of individual pomegranate grower. 8. Suggestions: 1. High temperatures has been reduced by the respondents with appropriate control measure i.e. by adopting soil moisture conservation technique using organic mulches.. 2. Owing to the characteristic of pomegranate tree that can bear fruits in any of the three cropping seasons or year around helped growers to overcome on this problem. If their first bahar was failed on account of any unfavorable environmental factor then growers adopted second or forthcoming bahar in the same year after a gap of few months in order to save their economy. 3. The medium and large category respondents usually better to adopt alternate cropping season on different plots. 4. The govt. officials came up to help by providing financial compensation to all affected farmers in study region. In addition, the central and state governments have programs of rescheduling loans to farmers affected by natural calamities.. 5. The contour planting was done when the sites were selected on hillsides. 6. The respondents with very light soil holdings at the time of plantation usually filled dug pits with fine silt and more farm yard manures. 7. Despite of testing the soils, pomegranate growers make day to day observations and identify deficiencies in pomegranate trees by visual symptoms. 8. There is a need to implement the knowledge from Lab to Land programme of NMU Jalgaon to growers. Looking into the view of making soil testing more reliable, there is need to set uniformity in laboratory standards, tests and analysis. > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 59

7 References: 1. Annonymous (1995): Research report of AICRP on arid zone fruits, MPKV, Rahuri, presented in research review Committee meeting of Agricultural entomology Pp, Chattopadhyay P. K. and Patra S. C. (1997): Effect of Mulches on Soil Moisture and Temperature in Pomegranate, Indian Journal of Horticulture, Vol. 54, No. 2, Pp Costa Y. and Melgarejo P. (1997): A Study of the Production Costs of Two Pomegranate Varieties Grown in Poor Quality Soils, Pp. 49 to Deore U. S. (2009): Analysis of Problems In Pomegranate Production and Marketing- A Case Study of Malegaon Tahsil, M. Phil thesis submitted to Yashvantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nasik (M.S.) 5. Jagtap M. R. (2000): Economics of Production and Marketing of Pomegranate in Phattan Tahsil of Satara District, unpublished M. Sc. Thesis (Agri-Economics) submitted to MPKV, Rahuri. 6. Kote D. S. (1992): A Study of Adoption consequences of Pomegranate Cultivation of Sangamner Taluka of Ahmednagar District unpublished M.Sc. Agriculture (Agriculture Extension) thesis submitted to MPKV, Rahuri, (M.S.). 7. Mitra S. K. (1999): Pomegranate in Tropical Horticulture, Vol.1 (T. K. Bose edit) Published by naya prokash, 206, bidhan sarani, Culcutta, 06, Pp Pawar C. T. and Phule B. R. (2000): Fruit Farming in Drought Prone Area of Maharashtra A Micro Level Analysis, Indian Geographical Journal, Chennai, Vol. 74(2), Pp Suryawanshi D. S. and Ahire S. C. (2012): The Study Of Pomegranate Plantation Volume In Dhule District (M.S.), Interlink Research Journal, Latur 10. Suryawanshi D. S. and Ahire S. C. (2012): Levels of sustainable development in Kan basin of Dhule District, Maharashtra Bhugolshastra Sanshodhan Patrika- Pune, Pp > RJSSM: Volume: 06, Number: 08, December 2016 Page 60