CHAPTER-2

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE OF THE DISTRICT

HISTORY :

It is believed that Buldana, along with the rest of the erstwhile Berar province, was

part of the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha mentioned in the Mahabharata. Berar also

formed part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Ashoka (272 to 231 BC). Berar later

came under the rule of the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BC – 2nd century CE), the

Vakataka dynasty (3rd to 6th centuries), the Chalukya dynasty (6th to 8th centuries),

Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th to 10th centuries), the Chalukyas again (10th to 12th centuries),

and finally the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri (late 12th to early 14th centuries).

A period of Muslim rule began when Ala uddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the

region in the early 14th century. The region was part of the Bahamani Sultanate, which

broke away from the Delhi Sultanate in the mid 14th century, and in 1572 Berar became

part of the Nizam Shahi Sultanate, based at Ahmednagar. The Nizam Shahis ceded Berar

to the Mughal Empire in 1595. As Mughal rule started to unravel at the start of the 18 th

century. Asaf. Jah. I, Nizam of Hydrabad seized the southern provinces of the empire

(including Berar) in 1724, forming an independent state. Mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji,

Veer Mata Jijabai was born at Sindkhed Raja, at the palace of Lakhuji Jadhav.

In 1853, the district together with the rest of Berar came under the administration

of the British East India Company. Berar was divided into East and West Berar with

Buldana district being included in west Berar. In 1903 Berar was leased by the Nizam of

Hydrabad to the British Govt. of India. Now the Buldana district forms the west part of

Amravati.

I. General Features of the District :

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A. Location :
District Buldana, the west of Vidarbha is located at the latitude 19.510 to 21.170

North longitude 75.570 to 76.490 and it is situated 305m above mean sea level. Buldana

district is surrounded by Akola & Washim district towards East Parbhani & Jalana district in

the south direction, Jalgaon Khandesh region towards West and Nimad district of Madhya

Pradesh is in the North and North-West direction.

B. Area and Administrative setup :-

The total geographical area of the district is 9661 Sq.km. The district is divided into

13 tahasil (Blocks). Its district head quarter is Buldana. The district comprises of 11

Municipal cities and 866 Grampanchayat working for rural development of the district. The

total number of villages are 1444 out of which 136 villages are inhabited. The district

having some tribal area in north east part. This area is commonly known as Satpuda

ranges.

C. Transport and Communication :

Mumbai-Howra railway lines commonly known as central railway passes through

the tahasils viz. Malkapur, Nandura, Shegaon & Khamgaon of the district. Khamgaon

tahasil is connected by narrow guage to central railway at Jalamb junction station. It

mainly facilitate the transportation of agricultural commodities on large scale.

Dhule-Kolkatta national highway No. 6 also passes through the district facilitating

the transportation of agricultural commodities to other parts of the country. State highway

176 going through Chikhali-Mehkar-Malegaon (Washim). State Highway 183 Buldana.

Chikhali-Sindkhedraja & another state highway connecting Taluka Deulgaonraja- Chikhali-

Amdapur- Khamgaon- Shegaon- Akot (Akola). The nearest airport for the district is

Aurangabad which around 150 Km from the district head quarters.

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II. Natural Features :
The district lies in Tapi & Godavari River basins. The district towards north is

surrounded by mountains of Satpuda running north east, Jalgaon (Jamod) tahasil is

located in this region Some portion of Jalgaon (Jamod) tahasil is hilly & covered with

forest, some portion of Khamgaon tahsil is also covered by forest. The Jalgaon (Jamod),

Nandura, Shegaon, Sangrampur are having saline track of purna.

Purna – The main river of the district is tributary of Tapi River emerging from the

hilly area of satpuda mountain from its north part and flows towards East-West, Mann,

Vaan, Bordi, Nalganga are the main tributaries of the river Purna. Khadakpurna &

Painganga river basins covers six talukas of the district. Both flows from West-East

direction with shallow medium soil & are tributary of Godavari River.

The world largest hyper velocity meteoritic impact in basaltic rock 50 thousand

years ago created a crater about 1.8 km diameter at lonar is in this district. Now this place

has became a tourist place and unique geological features for research & study.

III. Agroclimatic Features :

A. Soil :
The major portion of the earth-crust of the district has been synthesized from the

Basalt rock. Hence, the majority soils of the district are black and fertile. Soils of AES III, IV

and V are shallow the moderately deep while soils of AES-II are moderately deep and

predominantly vertisols.

B. Climate :

The district mainly falls in assured rainfall zone. Hence receives Mansoon rain

during June to October. The average rainfall of the district is 712 mm. Buldana district is

dry spell prone zone. Dry spell are observed from 15 Aug. to 15 Oct. which is important

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period of kharif season crops. In these days all major kharif crops are in reproductive

stages.

C. Forest :

The forest in the district is spread in overall district about 0.766 lakh hectare which

is about 7.92% of the total district area. The blocks covered are Jalgaon (Jamod), Botha

Abhayaranya of Buldana & Bird sanctuary of Lonar, Major commercial species like Teak,

Sandalwood, Anjan are found in this forest.

D. Agroclimatic Zones :

The major part of the district falls in the assured rainfall zone. Whereas district

divided into three distinct topographical features.

1. Ghat Track :

This zone occupies greater part of Buldana district with tahasils viz. Chikhali,

Buldana, Deulgaon Raja, Mehkar, Lonar, Malkapur, Sindkhed Raja, Motala and nandura.

Annual rainfall varies from 750 mm to 850 mm. Soil ranges from heavy shallow to

moderately deep. The topography is undulating and land slopes are around upto 7% in

this Ghat track Sorghum, Soybean, Maize are predominant in kharif season & wheat,

gram, safflower in rabi season.

2. Black Plains :

This zone occupies Khamgaon & Shegaon tahasils of the district. Annual rainfall

varies from 750 mm to 900 mm. Soils are moderately deep and predominantly vertisols

are ill drained.

3. Saline Alkali Track :

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 This zone spread over Shegaon, Khamgaon, Malkapur & part of Jalgaon (Jamod),

Sangrampur tahasils of the district. Soils are vertisols and saline to saline alkali in reaction.

The annual precipitation varies between 750 mm to 850 mm.

The district is characterized by warm and humid climate in June to October and

later on there is gradual decline in the temperature from October onward and December

happens to be coolest month of year. While cool and dry climate is observed during

November till January, March, April and May are the hot and dry months. The average

maximum and minimum temperature of the district is 420c and 100c respectively.

IV. Demographic Features :

Population :
As per the census 2011, the total population of the district 25,86,258 comprising

of 13,37,560 males and 12,48,698 females, with male and female population ratio is

10:9.45. The population growth rate during the preceding decade is 15.93% . 78 % of the

total population is residing in rural area whereas 21% is in the urban population in the

district. The general population density in the district is 268 sq.km. The schedule caste

and schedule tribe population in the district is 10.82% (4,70,895) and 5.16% (1,24,837)

respectively.

District is characterized by medium literacy percentage (82.09%) with 90.69%

male, 72.85% female. As per the census 2011, the total population is about 25,86,258 of

which about 72% depends on the basic industries like Agriculture and allied services for its

lively hood.As per the latest survey 1,51,000 families are below poverty line.

V. Productivity and Growth Rates of Different Commodities :

A. Agriculture :
Agriculture is the major contributor to the district economy. Agriculture Offers

direct and indirect employment to about 80% of population. About 37% of land holdings

are categorised as small and fragmented land holding and this has influenced the
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cropping pattern. As small farmers prefer food crops to cash crops. There is scope for

development of agro based activities, forest based units and artison units in the district .

The agro climatic conditions of the district is suitable for raising a no. of crops. The

soils ranging from deep black to medium black are suitable for Cotton, Jowar, Bajra,

Pulses, Groundnut, other Oil Seeds, Vegetables, Soybean etc. Buldana district is mainly

known for kharip cultivation. The major crops of the district are cotton and soybean.

The area and productivity of major crops in last three years is as below.

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Sr.
Crops Area Productivity Area Productivity Area Productivity
No.
(ha) (Kg/ha) (ha) (Kg/ha) (ha) (Kg/ha)
1 Cotton 2440 253 1855 465 1743 371

2 Soybean 2667 1560 3558 1520 4121 565

3 Tur 659 534 670 737 696 254

4 Kh.Jawar 481 1611 296 969 206 968

5 Kh.Maize 367 2671 411 2667 300 1926

6 Gram 778 641 1426 782 1224 NA

7 Wheat 158 1512 581 1334 587 NA

8 Rabbi Jawar 137 780 180 892 158 NA

TOTAL 7687 8977 9035

B. Animal Husbandry :

Livestock population shows negative growth trend in recent years. The percent

livestock population of the district is 9.80 lakh of which cow and bullocks are 4.79 lakh,

Buffaloes 1.19 lakhs, Sheep 1.05, goats 2.63 lakhs and poultry birds 0.68 lakhs. Raising

of cows and buffaloes for milk and milk product is a prominent feature among the farmers

in Nandura tahasil. Khoa is milk product of this tahasil which is supply to other districts

also. The animal husbandry industry has special significance in the agriculture dominated

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economy of the district, as it provides supplimentary occupation to the large number of

small and marginal families. However, availability of green and quality fodder all around the

year is major constraint, due to hot and dry climate and lack of irrigation facilities in the

district & hence the majority of the dairy farmers fed their dairy animals by grazing.

C. Dairy Development Department :

Buldana has good population of cow and buffaloes. The milk production however,

accounting for only about 2% of the states milk production. Per capita availability of milk in

the district is about 111 gm/day ,which is much lower than the recommanded level of 250

gm/day. Therefore there is need for improving production and productivity of dairy animals

in the district by stepping up infrastructure for animal health and sharing available quality

animals with dairy farmers.

There are 330 registered milk co operatives societies of which only 40 societies are

functioning. There are 2 milk chilling plants with aggregate capacity of 14000 LPD and one

processing plant under government sector.

D. Social Forestry :-

The present status of social forestry division of the district activities are use of

water conservation and land Plantation of Neem, Jatropha etc. 174 workers 130 ha Road

side plantation 35 works on 70 km. The same activities after 3 years will be on 650 ha. &

350 km respectively. Presently the production & supply of seed/planting material through

MREGS is 7 lakh plants & 3.71 lakhs plants. After five years the same activities projected

will be 13.50 lakh plants and 16 lakh plants.

E. Fisheries :-

The available projects like Nalganga, Koradi, Pentakali, Mann, Mus, Khadakpurna,

Utavali and small projects like Titwi, Gandhori, Shivani Jat, Misalwadi, Khalevodi are the

main source of fish cultivation and are limited. The total fish production in the district is

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5000MT in the year 2011-12. This business is run by 170 co-operative societies build by

8000 members.

F. Sericulture :-

Sericulture activity in the district is limited to mulberry plantation and silk worm

rearing. Buldana is non traditional district for sericulture however climatic conditions of the

district are suitable for mulberry plantation and rearing of silk worms. Thus the activity can

be fairly adopted by small and marginal farmers for additional income generation

throughout the year. The position of Mulberry plantation as on 31.3.12 was as under-

No of Area under Cacoon prod DFL Cacoon Employment

farmers mulberry (Acre) (kg) consumed purchased Generation
Rs/- (Mandays)
136 264 32,382.9 64,172 13,976 4,224

VI. Infrastructure Facilities :

A. Agricultural Department :
State Agriculture department is having head office at Buldana known as District

superitending agriculture officer office (DSAO). Under which 3 SDAO at subdivision viz.

Khamgaon, Buldana and Mehkar, under which 5 TAO, 4 TAO and 4 TAO at Tahasil level

respectively which are responsible for imparting extension services to the farmers in

villages and implementing and monitoring developmental scheme in agriculture sector.

Under DSAO there is one district Horticulture nursery, Four Taluka nurseries, Eleven

Taluka seed farms some of these requipped with the facility of Agriculture Polyclinic. State

Agriculture Department is having one soil testing and one Bio Control Laboratory.

ADO of Zihla Parishad is responsible for implementing and monitoring agricultural

schemes, distribution of inputs in the district with the help of Agriculture Officer and

Extension officer at Panchayat Samiti level.

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B. State Agricultural University :

District is having one zonal research centre at Buldana for research in cotton,

Jowar, Soyabean, Maize crops.

C. Krishi Vigyan Kendra :

District is having two KVK one at Buldana and another is at Jalgaon jamod. Both

affiliated to ICAR having technical staff, infrastructure with Demonstration farm and

Laboratories. They are engaged in extension of agricultural technologies like intensive

cultivation of crop, organic farming, diversification of crops. Small scale industries related

to agricultural sector through training and demonstration with the help of formation of

farmers interest group at village level.

D. Animal Husbandry Department :

The district head for AHDS is District Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry.

In the district there is one District Animal Husbandry Officer for implementation of

developmental scheme, Department having 129 veterinary dispensaries, 6 minipolyclinc,

Two mobile veterinary clinic & 129 Artificial Insemination centres.

E. Dairy Development Department :

District Dairy Development officer is the head of department at district level & under

which working One Extension Officer, Two supervisors for Extension work. The

Government milk scheme situated at Nandura tahasil headed by Dairy Manager providing

factility to receive milk and chilling centres at Chikhali & Motala tahasil. Dairy manager is

the head at Chikhali Centre while Dairy supervisor working as an head at Motala tahasil.

Under this department two Dairy were established at Khamgaon tahasil and Shegaon

tahasil in private sector but both are not working due to shortage of milk. Govt. Dairy

development department hires vehicles all over district for collection of milk from primary

milk societies as per the scope of availability of milk.

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F. Social Forestry :

District is having one Deputy Director at district level and ten Plantation Officer at

tahasil level for implementing development schemes in the district. There are thirteen

Taluka nurseries working for seedling production for various schemes viz. Van

mahotsav,DPDC,MREGS.

G. Fisheries :

This department is providing services for fish production with one Assistant

commissioner of fisheries & their staff. Department having Govt. fish seed production

centre for fish seed production & nursery/Fish pond at Koradi Tq. Mehkar for the purpose

of rearing of spawn to fry, semi fingerling & fingerling size. This department having

stocking pond for stock brood & Chinese hatchery for spawn production

H. Agro Industries :

The district economy is predominantly agro based. A number of Ginning and

Pressing units for cotton, oil mills and dal mills are working in the district.

The district seems to be industrially backward & there is no major industrial

production unit working in the district. Though the forest products are available in the

district as a raw material, basic industry utilizing the same is not established till now. There

is one mix fertilizer plant. Sugar industry in the district shows prominent impact in the

district. Shivashakti & Jijamata sugar Industry in co-operative sector are collapsed. But the

private sector industry like Sharangdhar, Anuradha at Dhad growing day by day. The

Shivshakti Co-operative Sugar Mill was under development & there by hand over to private

sector for further development.

I. Sericulture:-

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 District is having one district sericulture office for extention of sericulture .The office

is having one district sericulture officer one senior field assistant and four technical

assistant. Whole unit is working for extension of sericulture farming.

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