Agriculture

Agriculture

Agriculture or Farming is the main occupation of the people in rural parts of the region. Cotton, Soyabean and Jowar (Sorghum) are the predominant crops grown in the district. Other important crops of the region are Wheat, Sunflower, Canola, Peanut, Bajra (Pearl Millet), Harbara (Chick Peas), Toor (Pigeon Peas), Ulad and Mung (Green Gram) etc.Most crops are totally dependent on the monsoon. Only 15% of Maharashtra's gross cropped area is irrigated, as against the national average of 32.9% in 1989-90. Vidarbha's Amravati division's (includes Akola District) share of gross cropped area under irrigation is a meagre 9%. Considered one of Maharashtra's least developed regions, Vidarbha has seen not only farmer's suicides but also malnutrition deaths in some tribal areas. This has became nowadays a major reason of recent suicide deaths of Farmers in the Akola region and other surrounding parts of Vidarbha, which has rang alarming bells in the Maharashtra State Government. Vidarbha region has been long demanding a separate state, to support the Economy and Agriculture of this region.Oil and Dal mills are rampant in this region because of the crops taken. Textile mills are also increasing to support the cotton growing industry.