Introduction
India is an agricultural country and the share of agriculture and allied sector in the country’s gross national income is 18.2%. The Agriculture Department Zilla Parishad Jalna working with the motto “Bahujan Hithy Bahujan Sukhay” for the wellness and prosperity of the farmers by ensuring availability of improved seed, fertilizers, pesticides and other tools and implements to farmers. Agriculture Department is also involved in awareness creation among the farmers through extension work. The agriculture department is an important department of the Zilla Parishad and the agricultural development officer (ADO) looks after the work of this department as the head of the department. With a view a overall development of the farmers and upliftment of their social and economic status various schemes of individual benefit schemes and of farmers welfare schemes are continuously implemented. Agriculture Department is also aims at to percolate these schemes at grass root level i.e. at the rural areas.
The geographical area of Jalna district is 7.72 lakh hectare and the net sown area is 6.76 lakh hectare. The total area of Kharif crops is 6.19 lakh hectare and the area of Rabi crops is 1.74 lakh hectare. The average annual rainfall of the district is 603 mm.
There are a total of 08 panchayat samiti in the district. The crops in Jalna, Ambad, Badnapur, Ghansavangi, Mantha and Partur talukas are cotton, tur, soybean, gram and jowar and in addition to this maize, chilli crops are also grown in Jafrabad and Bhokardan talukas.
The scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers belonging to the scheduled castes / Neo-Buddhist and scheduled tribes is implemented through the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Krishi Swavalamban Yojana as well as Birsa Munda Krishi Kranti Yojana (OTSP) and Rashtriy Krushi Vikas Yojana (new irrigation wells). The planning of demand and supply of seeds and fertilizer during kharip and rabi season is controlled by quality control section of agriculture department Zilla Parishad Jalna. It also ensure the supply of quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to the farmers. Rastriya Biogas Yojana and Zilla Parishad cess scheme is also implemented by agriculture department for wellbeing of farmers.
