Jap Agricultural Mission In. Pakistan. THE Japanese Agricultural Mis- sion which
studied the rice cultivation -methods- in Pakistan for over a month has made out ...
THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY
August 1,1953 Jap Agricultural Mission In Pakistan Agricultural MisT HEsionJapanese which studied the rice
cultivation -methods- in Pakistan for over a month has made out a strong case for providing subsidiary-employment for the cultivators. The 'Mission takes the view that cultivators in Pakistan have such a low income because they have no .subsidiary incomes. The, expert advice, however; does not stop with the .usual generalities about setting- up cottage industries. It is much more definite and to the point. In Sind, for instance, the Mission says that very few of the natural resources have been tapped. Development of fishing and fisheries, crocodile fanning and poultry farming are among the specific recommendations for this province. For the Frontier Province, establishment of small scale fruit canning factories on a cooperative basis is an obvious suggestion. Ideally suited for growing apples, pears and many other temperate climate fruits and nuts, the trade in them has been greatly restricted because of inadequate transport facilities and complete absence of modern methods of cold storage and transportation by refrigerated ears. These may be expensive, not canning on i small scale and marketing through cooperatives. The main object of the Mission being to study rice cultivation it is important to note that the principal deficiency it finds m present methods is the unsuitability of the type of plough used. This is, of course, (he same plough that is used all over in India. It is defective in several respects,—the adjustment of depth and width of ploughing is incomplete, suction is inadequate, and then- is too much friction which can be easily avoided. The Mission suggests adoption of the Japanese type plough which can be pulled by one bullock instead of two. Such plotters have been in use in Thailand for the last three years and have given excellent results. Next comes the system of threshing of paddy by striking it on wooden platform or by bullocks walking over it. Besides being inefficient, it is harmful to the grain which gets mixed with earth and dust, making nulling less effective. The use of threshing machines operating on mattresses has been recommended in the place of the present wasteful method. The methods of using manures is as defective as the quantity is inadequate. One hundred maunds of compost, farmyard or cowdung
manures are needed per acre of a land . This manure should be manure into the soil-before suddling. After watering and puddling or levelling, 100 pounds of ammonium sulphate should, be applied per acre,. T h e n the land should be 'puddled or levelled again, for mixing the fertiliser with the soil as deep as possible. Finally fertiliser should be applied the day before transplantation. ' The Mission naturally condemns transplanting at random and recommends planting in regular squares or rectangles, which is the essence of the Japanese system. This is essential to make the plants grow, 'uniformly. Besides, regular lining and spacing makes weeding so much easier and enables effective intcrculturiiig. But Japanese method of rice cultivation docs not mean adoption of Japanese breeds of paddy. Few of these varieties take to Pakistani, or for that matter, Indian soil.
panies will be entitled to compensation in respect of profits earned in the six years immediately precedi n g August 1, provided income tax has been paid on such profit and die probability of the companies earning future profits if they had been allowed, to, continue w i l l also, be considered. The, decision on this issue will be made, by a Tribunal to be constituted by the Government. Whatever compenstations are fixed, w i l l fee p a i d , in bonds for the major part which will carry, interest at 3½ per cent and will be negotiable only after the Corporation concerned had not, on the demand of the holder, redeemed w i t h i n 180 days after the expiry of five years from their date of issue, w h i c h is to be deemed as August 1. T h e cash part of the compensation w i l l not exceed 10 per cent of the amount of compensation, or an amount borrowed by the company concerned and outstanding oh December 31, 1952, or an amount Air Corporations Take Over equal to the cash holdings of the HE A i r Corporations take over company on that date, including from today. No operational t i l l cash and deposits w i t h banks. changes in the schedule of air services preceded the inauguration of (Continued from page 842) Indian Airlines. A i r India Inter- ing together too many pupils in the national of course has not under- same class, why not let them have gone a transformation that may the afternoon off, to wander over suggest operational changes. T h e the fields or do whatever they like hulk of the existing stall of the i n - on the off chance that they may ternal operating companies have thereby gain some knowledge of been taken over by the Indian A i r - farming methods? There is no comlines but as the A i r Corporations pulsion on them to do so. Act limits the Corporation's liabiT h e obvious answer is, have more lity only to those persons employed teachers and better schools. But by the companies prior to July 1, such questions are never decided on 1952, the case of some 150 em- their merits. It is so much easier ployees, who are being retained to pick on some non-essential featemporarily for three months, re- ture and play it up as was done in mains to be examined and a decision the case of Madras Educational w i l l be reached in about six weeks. Bill when an Opposition member The liability in regard to employ- cited the instance of two boys who ment of existing staff was extended had been let off from school and to those who had been recruit- got drowned. Rajaji is wise enough ed after June 30, 1952 to replace to bow to the public when he must personnel in service before that and he has publicly expressed his date on pay and allowances not gratification that he may have erred higher than what those personnel but that the errors of his ways were drawing. They have been should make people take so much treated as if their recruitment, had interest in the problem of primary taken place before July 1, 1952. education. As regards compensation for the The occasion naturally provided airlines whose operations are ter- jubilation for the Opposition but to minated the principles for the valua- call on the Cabinet to resign on this tion of their assets that have been issue and bring in May's parliamentaken over have been laid in the tary Practices in support of this deA i r Corporations Act. Actual valua- mand is just as much muddy polition, however, is a complicated tics as the thinly veiled design of the process and will naturally take some Madras Government of beating time. What corresponds to the Opposition by playing a waiting goodwill or compensation for esti- game. After all the trouble makers mated losses resulting from termi- w i l l be out soon when Andhra is nation of their operation, however, separated and then who will chalis a different matter. The com- lenge Rajaji?
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