Chapter-1
The story of village palampur
1. Introduction
2. Farming in palampur
3. Farming activites
a. Multiple cropping
b. Modern methods
I. HYV seeds. Fertilizer, pesticides, farm machinery
II. Irrigation (dams, cannals, pumps sets)
4. Nonfarm activities in palampur
a. Dairy (the other common actives)
b. Small-scale manufacturing in palampur
c. The shopkeeper
d. Transport
Farming in Palampur
2. Is
there a way one can grow more from the same Land

Kharif crops like jowar, Bajra are grown in rainy seasons. These plants are grown as cattle feed. It is followed by cultivation of potato between October and December. In the winter season, rabi crops like wheat, sugar cane are grown. Sugar cane is grown in the village on one part of the land and jaggery is produced and sold in Raiganj. The villagers can grow more crops because they are having the facilities of electricity, well developed system of irrigation etc.. All the farmers in the village grow more than one crop. Many grow potato as the third crop in their field.
a. Multiple Cropping
To grow more than one crop in the same field is known as multiple cropping.
This system gives high yield. . For example: Wheat – bajra – potato.
To grow two crops in the same piece of land. Excessive production in
agriculture due to modern scientific methods are called green revolution.
3. Green
Revolution
In late 1960s HYVs are introduced, which were a great boon to agriculture.
These are High Yielding Varieties of seeds which guarantees greater qualitative
and quantitative production. HYV seeds need plenty of water and also chemical
fertilizers and pesticides to produce best results. Punjab, Haryana and Western
Uttar Pradesh were the first states to use modern methods of agriculture and
made use of HYV seeds, pesticides, chemical fertilizers etc.
Land being a natural resource. Green revolution is associated with the loss of
soil fertility.
Continuous use of ground water for tube well irrigation has reduced the water –
table below the ground. Chemical fertilizers may destroy the bacteria and other
micro organisms in the soil. The consumption of chemical fertilizers in Punjab
is highest in the country.
5. Distribution of Land between the Farmers of Palampur
Land is unevenly distributed among the farmers of the villages. Some farmers
have large lands while some have very small and others have no land at all. The
divisions may result in poor and unsatisfactory production leading to poor
economic status to the country.
6. Provide Labour
Small farmers along with their families cultivate their own fields. they
provide the labour. Landless farmers work in the field of rich farmers for
wages. The government fixed salary is 60 rupees per day. But most of the
farmers are paid less than 40 rupees.
7. The Capital needed in Farming
Small farmers have to borrow money from large farmers of the village or money
lenders or the traders who supply various inputs for cultivation. Farmers need
capitals as they don’t have surplus of their own.
8. Sale of Surplus Farm Products
Surpluses are the excessive amount of production produced by the farmers.
Example: Farmers produce wheat and store a part of it for their consumption and
the remaining they sell in the market and gain profit. This profit is called
surplus. The farmers use the surplus as capital for the next harvest.
Non Farming Activities in Palampur
25% of the people working in Palampur are engaged in
activities other than agriculture. Farming has reached up to the saturated point
so there is little scope for further labourers of getting absorbed in farming
activities. Hence, it becomes most important to increase non-farm activities so
that some farm labourers can get employment there. Such non-farm activities can
be – dairy farming, manufacturing, shop-keeping, transport, poultry farming,
tailoring, educational activities etc. In the lean season the farm labourers
can supplement their income by taking part in any of these non-farm activities
and thus, improve their economical conditions.
a. Dairy Farming
b. Small Scale Manufacturing
c. Shop Keeping
d. Transport
a. Dairy
Farming:
Dairy farming is a common activity in Palampur. People feed
their buffalos on various kinds of grass and the jowar and bajra that grow
during rainy season. Milk is sold in Raiganj. Traders of Shahpur have set up
collection cum chilling centers at Raiganj.
b. Small
Scale Manufacturing:
Very simple production is done in the
village. People produce baskets, gur etc. in small scale. Mishrilal of
Palampur produce Jaggery and sell in Shahpur. He makes a small profit. He owns
a crushing machine as capital.
c. Shop
Keeping:
Some villagers sell rice, wheat, sugar, tea,
oil, biscuits, soap, toothpaste, batteries, candles etc. People whose houses
are close to the bus stand use a part of the space to open small shops. Some
sell eatables like pakoras, samosas etc.
In Palampur Kareem had opened a
computer center. Students from shahpur town had joined it. He had appointed two
women of his village to work in his center. In this way he is self employed and
have given employment to others.
d. Transport:
Transport is another major activity of villages. Rickshwas,
Tongas, jeeps, tractors, trucks are some of the vehicles found here. Some
people are engaged in this line too. Kishora of Palampur village own a buffalo.
The buffalo gives milk and also draws cart for him. Every day he goes to ganga
river to fetch clay for the potters of the village. Kishora is engaged in multi
economic activity.
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