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area under irrigated crops and (ii) to what extent wells
from which sugarcane fields are irrigated depend on rain-
fall for their water-supply. In connection with this topic
we may consider another question of some importance
whether the existing irrigation wells are used to their
fullest capacity. We found that they are not. Accord-
ing to our calculation about 96 acres can be irrigated with
the help of existing wells. The actual area irrigated in
the year of enquiry was only 26 acres. In considering
the reasons why there is this difference between the
possible and the actual irrigated area we must remember
that sugarcane is the only irrigated crop in this village.
The following seem to be the main reasons for this dis-
parity : (i) Sugarcane, the only irrigated crop of this area,
is exhausting both to the soil and the grower. To the big
farmer who works with hired labour it is a losing con-
cern at the present market price of gul.1 To the small
farmer it means considerable labour patiently applied for
a long time. And it is difficult to expect this from the
average small peasant proprietor of the village who be-
longs to the Kaliparaj community, and is notorious for
his love of liquor and toddy.
Regarding its exhausting effect on the soil, the big
farmer is out of consideration since he loses in this kind of
cultivation as we shall see later. A small farmer on the
other hand, even if he desires to grow sugarcane* does
not possess a sufficiently large holding to be able to culti-
vate sugarcane on different plots from year to year.
:(ii) It is a very expensive crop. It requires rich
manuring, a good pair of bullocks to fetch water from
wells to irrigate it, and a large amount of cash for the
purchase of seeds and manufacturing gul out of it. This
is difficult for the small farmer who is short of capital.
(iii) There is uncertainty about this crop both as regards
its yield and the price it may command.
These causes can be removed provided
1 This will be explained in Chapter VI.