DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0075
{ 65 )
On the whole it may be said of the spring harvest that,
notwithstanding the deficiency in area and the failure on
nnirrigated lands, the outturn for the Province generally was
above one-half, and may be fairly placed at about 60 per cent,
of a full average yield. In normal years the produce of the
mhi or spring food grains in the North-Western Provinces and
Oudh is estimated at 7,488,700 tons. In 1897 the outturn may
be estimated at 4,481,700 tons. There was thus a deficiency of
3,037,000 tons, valued at normal prices at eighteen crores of
rupees (equal to twelve millions sterling at current rates of
exchange). Thus the failure in the autumn and spring harvests
of food grains alone cost the Provinces no less than 34J crores
of rupees (equivalent to £23,000,000 sterling).
This calculation or quantification of loss is in substan-
tial accordance with the estimates framed before the end of
1896. PTnfortunately it is necessary to repeat that the area of
greatest deficiency was the area of greatest need. In Bundel-
khand and the south of Allahabad the unirrigated lands yielded
little, in many cases nothing at all, and this loss was all the
more severely felt from the scantiness of the protected area.
In Hardoi a larger proportion of cultivation was irrigated
than in Bundelkhand; but the failure of crops on the
unprotected lands was almost as extensive. In the uplands of
Mirzapur much the same conditions prevailed. Generally
speaking, the spring harvest failed most where the autumn
harvest had been worst, and chiefly for the same reason. Maps
which accompany this narrative show at a glance the extent
and distribution of the failure of both harvests.
Besides the ordinary field crops a certain area is always
devoted to garden crops. In the present year this area was
rather larger than usual. To some extent this was due to the
action of Government in encouraging such cultivation and
assisting it by collecting and distributing seed. As already
stated the imported carrot seed generally arrived too late, and
it is still doubtful whether it is suited to the conditions of
village culture or to the climate of these Provinces. But the
country carrot seed and much of the potato seed, which were
distributed in considerable quantities, proved successful. The
villagers were quick to take up the idea and sowed considerable
quantities of these and other fast-growing vegetables, which
made a valuable addition to the food supply in the later months
of the cold weather, when the spring cereals had not yet
matured. They were largely used, and they influenced the
Pamine Code rations on relief works, which are primarily
framed on the basis of the more expensive cereals and jmlses.
Besides garden cultivation there are certain extra
products which contribute regularly to the food of the people
at certain seasons. Water-nuts fsingharaj proved a short
crop, as might be expected in a year of drought. But the
mahua (Bassia latifoliaj yielded an excellent outturn, and if
17
On the whole it may be said of the spring harvest that,
notwithstanding the deficiency in area and the failure on
nnirrigated lands, the outturn for the Province generally was
above one-half, and may be fairly placed at about 60 per cent,
of a full average yield. In normal years the produce of the
mhi or spring food grains in the North-Western Provinces and
Oudh is estimated at 7,488,700 tons. In 1897 the outturn may
be estimated at 4,481,700 tons. There was thus a deficiency of
3,037,000 tons, valued at normal prices at eighteen crores of
rupees (equal to twelve millions sterling at current rates of
exchange). Thus the failure in the autumn and spring harvests
of food grains alone cost the Provinces no less than 34J crores
of rupees (equivalent to £23,000,000 sterling).
This calculation or quantification of loss is in substan-
tial accordance with the estimates framed before the end of
1896. PTnfortunately it is necessary to repeat that the area of
greatest deficiency was the area of greatest need. In Bundel-
khand and the south of Allahabad the unirrigated lands yielded
little, in many cases nothing at all, and this loss was all the
more severely felt from the scantiness of the protected area.
In Hardoi a larger proportion of cultivation was irrigated
than in Bundelkhand; but the failure of crops on the
unprotected lands was almost as extensive. In the uplands of
Mirzapur much the same conditions prevailed. Generally
speaking, the spring harvest failed most where the autumn
harvest had been worst, and chiefly for the same reason. Maps
which accompany this narrative show at a glance the extent
and distribution of the failure of both harvests.
Besides the ordinary field crops a certain area is always
devoted to garden crops. In the present year this area was
rather larger than usual. To some extent this was due to the
action of Government in encouraging such cultivation and
assisting it by collecting and distributing seed. As already
stated the imported carrot seed generally arrived too late, and
it is still doubtful whether it is suited to the conditions of
village culture or to the climate of these Provinces. But the
country carrot seed and much of the potato seed, which were
distributed in considerable quantities, proved successful. The
villagers were quick to take up the idea and sowed considerable
quantities of these and other fast-growing vegetables, which
made a valuable addition to the food supply in the later months
of the cold weather, when the spring cereals had not yet
matured. They were largely used, and they influenced the
Pamine Code rations on relief works, which are primarily
framed on the basis of the more expensive cereals and jmlses.
Besides garden cultivation there are certain extra
products which contribute regularly to the food of the people
at certain seasons. Water-nuts fsingharaj proved a short
crop, as might be expected in a year of drought. But the
mahua (Bassia latifoliaj yielded an excellent outturn, and if
17