CHAPTER III

PROFILE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1 Introduction
A profile of the study area is presented in this chapter which includes
location, land use pattern, soil type, climate and rainfall, irrigation pattern,
cropping pattern, demography, commercial institutions, livestock and marketing.

About Sivaganga
The Kingdom of Ramnad originally comprised of the territories of Ramnad,
Sivaganga and Pudukottai today. Regunatha Sethupathy alias Kilavan Sethupathi,
the Seventh King of Ramnad reigned between 1674 and 1740. Kilvan Sethupathy,
came to know of the bravery and valour of Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai, 4
Kilometers from Sholapuram near Sivaganga. Sivagangai is the land of Marudhu
Pandyas who opposed the colonial power with patriotic fervor. They were a
nightmare to the British who in the guise of traders grabbed the whole of India and
founded an empire here. Had there been many Marudhus, the history of India
would have been different from what it turned out to be.
Sivagangai is now the headquarters of the district. It was formed out of
Ramanathapuram as a separate district in 1985. Sivagangai is a town in Tamil
Nadu state of Southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sivaganga
District. Karaikudi is the biggest city in Sivaganga district. Known as the capital
of Chettinad, because of the predominance of the ‘Nattu Kottai Chettiars’ who
have from here have ventured far and wide to set up their business even at the turn
of the 20th century.
The Chettiars were a prosperous banking community who ventured overseas
to do business in South and Southeast Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is
bounded on the north and northeast by Pudukkottai District, on the southeast and
south by Ramanathapuram District, on the southwest by Virudhunagar District,
and on the west by Madurai District, and on the northwest by Tiruchirappalli.

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About Manamadurai
As of 2001 India census, Manamadurai had a population of 46,284. Males
constitute 50 per cent of the population and females 50 per cent. Manamadurai has
an average literacy rate of 74 per cent, higher than the national average of 59.5 per
cent: male literacy is 81 per cent, and female literacy is 68 per cent. In
Manamadurai, 12 per cent of the population is under 6 years of age. This is a town
where the Vaigai river flows from north to south. This small town is famous for
manufacturing Gatam and POTs.
The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT)
Limited is located here, and the town was famous for the production of jasmine
flowers, but this industry has diminished over time due to the destruction of
gardens throughout the city. It is a major junction for people going to
Rameshwaram. ‘Chithirai Thiruvizha’ is celebrated every year and it draws a lot of
people. In the Perumal Temple, Hanuman is enshrined, with the highly unusual
feature of a crown on his head, reflecting the local belief that Hanuman was
crowned here before leaving for Lanka.
According to one account, the name of the town is derived from the visit,
which in Tamil is described as Vanara Veera Madurai, which has become
ManaMadurai. The crowned Hanuman is enshrined near the entrance of the
Vaishnavite Veera Alagar Koil temple on the east bank of the river. (Reference
from South India Tourist Guide ). It has a Head Post Office since 1972. It has a
majestic departmental building infront of Gandhi statue in the eastern bank of
Manamadurai.

3.2 The District Profile

Sivaganga District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in
southern India. The city of Sivaganga is the district headquarters. It is bounded by
Pudukkottai district on the northeast, Tiruchirapalli district on the north,
Ramanathapuram district on south east, Virudhunagar district on south west and
Madurai District on the west.

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Administrative Details
Sivaganga district is having administrative divisions of 6 taluks, 12 blocks,
521 villages as detailed below:

S.No. TALUK NAME OF BLOCK NO. OF VILLAGES

Sivaganga 51
1. Sivaganga
Kallayarkoil 70

Manamadurai 43
2. Manamadurai
Tiruppuvanam 46

3. Ilayangudi Illayangudi 55

Devakottai 66
4. Devakottai
Kannangudi 25
Tiruppathur 42
5. Thiruppathur Singampuneri 25
S.Pudur 16
Kallal 44
6. Karaikudi
Sakkottai 38

Total 521

3.3 Brief History of the District and its Formation

Sivaganga District has been carved out from composite Ramnad District as
per G.O. MS. No. 1122 Rev. Dept. Dated. 6.7.84 and the District was functioning
from 15.3.85 as per G.O Ms.No. 346 Rev. dept. Dated: 8.3.85.

3.4. Demographic Features of Sivaganga District

An official Census 2011 detail of Sivaganga, a district of Tamil Nadu has
been released by Directorate of Census Operations in Tamil Nadu. Enumeration of
key persons was also done by census officials in Sivaganga District of Tamil Nadu.
In 2011, Sivaganga had population of 1,341,250 of which male and female

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were 670,597 and 670,653 respectively. There was change of 16.09 percent in the
population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India
2001, Sivaganga District recorded increase of 4.74 percent to its population
compared to 1991.
The initial provisional data suggest a density of 324 in 2011 compared to
279 of 2001. The total area under Sivaganga district is about 4,143 sq.km.
The average literacy rate of Sivaganga in 2011 was 80.46 compared to
72.18 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy
were 88.61 and 72.33 respectively. In 2001 census, same figures stood at 83.14 and
61.74 in Sivaganga District. The total literate in Sivaganga District was 976,384 of
which male and female were 536,523 and 439,861 respectively. In 2001,
Sivaganga District had 738,000 in its total region.
With regards to Sex Ratio in Sivaganga, it stood at 1000 per 1000 male
compared to 2001 census figure of 1038. The average national sex ratio in India is
940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate.
In census enumeration, data regarding child under 0-6 age was also
collected for all districts including Sivaganga. There were total 127,682 children
under age of 0-6 against 132,891 of 2001 census. Of total 127,682 male and female
were 65,123 and 62,559 respectively. Child Sex Ratio as per census 2011 was 961
compared to 952 of census 2001. In 2011, Children under 0-6 formed 9.52 percent
of Sivaganga District compared to 11.50 percent of 2001. There was net change of
-1.98 percent in this compared to previous census of India.
Sivaganga District population constituted 1.86 percent of total Tamil Nadu
population. In 2001 census, this figure for Sivaganga District was at 1.86 percent
of Tamil Nadu population.
All details regarding Sivaganga District have been processed by us after
receiving from the Government of India. We are not responsible for errors to
population census details of Sivaganga District.

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3.5 Population among Workers

Male Workers 3,18,036 Rural Workers 3,08,722

Female Workers 1,06,012 Urban Workers 1,15,326
Total Workers 4,24,048 Total Workers 4,24,048

Cultivators 1,85,828
Agricultural Labourers 1,22,894
Household Industry Labourers 85,492
Other Workers 29,834
Total Workers 4,24,048

3.6 Climate and Rainfall

The Banana is essentially tropical plant requiring a warm and humid
climate. However, it can be grown from sea level to all altitudes of 1200 metres. It
can be cultivated in a temperature range of 10°C and 40°C with high humidity but
growth is retarded at temperatures of 20°C and less and more than 35°C. Yields are
higher when temperatures are above 24°C for a considerable period. In the cooler
climate, the crop requires longer time to mature. Plants exposed to low temperature
and humidity during the active growth stage show reduced growth and yields. Hot
winds blowing in high speed during the summer month's shred and desiccate the
leaves. It requires an average 1700 mm rainfall distributed throughout the year for
its satisfactory growth. The stagnation of water is injurious and may cause diseases
like Panama wilt.
The normal annual rainfall over the district varies from about 861.8 mm. to
about 988.6 mm. The normal south west monsoon rainfall varies from 275.8 to
401.1 mm while during northeast monsoon the normal seasonal rainfall varies from
382.5 to 442.8 mm. A perusal of the rainfall pattern shows that in general the
rainfall increases towards east.
The district enjoys a tropical climate. The period from April to June is
generally hot and dry. The weather is pleasant during the period from November to

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January. Usually mornings are more humid than afternoons. The relative humidity
varies between 65 and 85 per cent in the mornings while in the afternoon it varies
between 40 and 70 per cent.

3.7 Soils
The fertility of soil is very important for successful cultivation, as banana is
a heavy feeder. The banana is one of the few fruits, which has a restricted root
zone. Hence, depth and drainage are the two most important considerations in
selecting the soil for banana. The soil suitable for banana should be 0.51 m in
depth, rich, well drained, fertile, moisture retentive, containing plenty of organic
matter. The range of pH should be 6.5-7.5. The Alluvial and the volcanic soils are
the best for banana cultivation. The Banana is grown in India on a variety of soils
such as the heavy clay soil of the Cauvery delta, the alluvial soils of the Gangetic
delta, the black loam in Maharashtra, the coastal sandy loams and the red lateritic
soil of the hilly tracts of Kerala. These areas are famous for growing good crop of
banana.
The major soil types in the Sivaganga district are 1. Red soil, 2. Lateritic
Soil, 3. Alluvial Soil and 4. Black Cotton soil. The Red soils are prevalent in
Devakottai, Tiruppathur and Sivagangai taluks, while the Lateritic soil is found in
Karaikudi and Devakottai taluks. The Alluvial soil along the river courses and the
Black Soil in Illayangudi, Manamadurai and Tiruppathur Taluks.

3.8 Irrigation
IRRIGATION
Gross area Irrigated : 1,04,752 Ha
Net Area Irrigated by ( Hec ) : 82,121 Ha

RIVERS FLOWING IN THE DISTRICT

Vaigai Bambar
Kottagudi Thennar
Uppargundar Sarugani

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3.9 Forests
A. FOREST AREA : 21877.00
B. OUT-TURN OF FOREST PRODUCT
1. TIMBER(CU.M.) : ---
2. FUELWOOD(MT) : 6552.94
3. PULPWOOD(MT) : 134.71
4. SANDALWOOD(MT) : NIL
5. RUBBER(MT) : NIL
6. BAMBOO(TONNE) : NIL
7. TEA GREEN LEAVES : NIL
8. WATTLE BARK (MT) : NIL
9. CASHEW(TONNE) : 104.71

3.10 Land Utilisation

YEAR : 2001 - 2002 (Area in Hectares)

Sl.No. Classification District

1. Forest 21877
2. Barren and Uncultivable uses 4747
3. Land put to Non-Agricultural uses 115541
4. Cultivable Waste 16721
5. Permanent Pastures and Other Grazing Land 1367
Land Under Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Groves
6. 10418
not included in Net Area Sown
7. Current Fallow 12688
8. Other Fallow Land 127029
9. Net Area Sown 108512
10. Geographical Area According to Village Papers 418900
11. Total Cropped Area 108512
12. Area sown more than once NIL

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3.11 Agriculture
The vast majority of the workforce is dependent on agriculture (72.8%).
The principal crop of Sivaganga district is paddy. A majority of the district has red
soil. The other crops that are grown are sugarcane, groundnut, pulses, millets and
cereals. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University plans to set up the State's first Red
Soil Dryland Research Centre in Sivaganga district soon.
The Spices Board will setting up a new spices park at Sivaganga on an
invest of Rs.18 crores. As of December 2010 this park is expected to be
operational by March 2011. It would be immensely helpful to the farmers of chilli,
turmeric, medicinal plants and tamarind, as the focus would be to export their
products. The proposed spices park would establish machinery for cleaning,
sorting, grading, packaging, storing, sterilising and other work. The focus would be
to encourage chilli, a leading crop in Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and nearby
districts, and turmeric crops. Medicinal plants, being raised in and around Madurai
district, would also get a boost, as it was planned to patronise farmers of medicinal
plants.

Solar power farm

Moser Baer Clean Energy Limited has commissioned a 5 MW grid
connected solar PV project at Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu. The project was awarded to
Sapphire Industrial Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of MBCEL,
through a competitive bidding process conducted by the Tamil Nadu Renewable
Development Agency. The project is implemented under the 50 MWp generation
based incentive scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,
Government of India.[10]

3.12 Animal Husbandry

Animal Husbandary
a. VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS
Veterinary Hospitals : 2
Veterinary Dispensaries : 24

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b. DAIRY DEVELOPMENT
a. Dairies : 1
b. Milk Chilling Plants : 2
c. Milk Production ( Lakh Litres)
Flush Season : 80.25
Leans Season : 42.22
3.13 Livestock
LIVESTOCK CENSUS
Cattle : 2,31,138
Buffaloes : 28,274

3.14 Industries
The Sakthi sugar factory is also located in Sivaganga. It has the capability
to produce more than 5,000 tonnes of sugar per day. It provides employment to
more than 1,000 labourers directly and indirectly.
SIPCOT has allocated 70 acres (280,000 m2) of land to the India's No.3
electronic goods seller Videocon near Manamadurai to set up its manufacturing
unit for Refrigerators, washing machines and television sets. The construction
underway is expected to be completed in 10–12 months of time, after which the
production will begin. The company has also plans to set up a mobile phone
manufacturing unit here during its expansion. This industry is first of its kind in the
volume of Rs.2,000 crore in south Tamil Nadu and comes as a boon to the skilled
unemployed youth in South Tamil Nadu.
1. NO. OF WORKING FACTORWISE (REGISTERED) : 157
2. NO. OF MANDAYS WORKED (LAKHS) : 12
3. NO. OF TRADE UNIONS : 26
4. NO. OF STRIKES : 9
5. NO. OF LOCKOUTS : NIL
6. LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIES : 28
7. MEDIUM SCALE INDUSTRIES : 82
8. SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES : 5352
9. COTTAGE INDUSTRIES : 2440

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3.15 Transport and Communication
A. ROAD LENGTH (KM)
1. NATIONAL HIGHWAYS : 54.500
2. STATE HIGHWAYS : 62.021
3. CORPORATION AND MUNICIPALITIES ROAD : 257.000
4. PANCHAYAT UNION ROAD : 2100.700
5. TOWN PANCHAYAT &TOWNSHIPS ROAD : 1930.000
6. OTHERS(FOREST ROADS) : NIL
B. REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES
1. COMMERCIAL : 533
2. NON-COMMERCIAL : 8522
C. RAILWAY LENGTH
1. ROUTE LENGTH(KM) : 142.94
i. BROAD GAUGE : 130.00
ii. METER GAUGE : 12.94
2. TRACK LENGTH
i. BROAD GAUGE : 140.21
ii. METER GAUGE : 15.30
3. NUMBER OF RAILWAY STATIONS : 17.00
D. NUMBER OF SEA PORTS : NIL
E. NUMBER OF AIRPORTS : NIL

COMMUNICATION
A. POST & TELEGRAPH
1. POST OFFICES DOING POSTED
BUSINESS ALONE : 312
2. POST OFFICES DOING POST &
TELEGRAPH BUSINESS : 62
B. TELEPHONES
1. NO. OF TELEPHONES IN USE : 38300
2. NO. OF PUBLIC CALL OFFICES : 1314
3. NO. OF TELEPHONES EXCHANGES : 64

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3.16 Health and Education
MEDICAL AND HEALTH
i. ALLOPATHY
a. NO OF HOSPITALS : 17
b. DISPENSARIES : NIL
c. PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES : 47
d. HEALTH SUB CENTRES : 275
e. OTHER MEDICAL INSTITUTION : 3
f. BEDS IN HOSPITALS&DISPENSARIES : 958
g. TOTAL NO OF DOCTORS : 224
h. TOTAL NO OF NURSES : 313
ii. INDIAN MEDICINE
a. NO OF HOSPITALS : NIL
b. DISPENSARIES : 2
c. PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES : NIL
d. BEDS IN HOSPITALS&DISPENSARIES : NIL
e. TOTAL NO OF DOCTORS : 2
f. TOTAL NO OF NURSES : 5
iii. HOMEOPATHY : NIL
EDUCATION
1. UNIVERSITIES : 1
2. ARTS & SCIENCE COLLEGES : 14
3. COLLEGES FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION : 6
a. MEDICINE :
i. ALLOPATHY : NIL
ii. INDIAN MEDICINE : 1
iii. HOMEOPATHY : NIL
b. ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY : 5
c. AGRICULTURE : NIL
d. VETERINARY : NIL
e. LAW : NIL

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 4. COLLEGES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION : NIL
5. SCHOOLS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION
i. PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL : 56
ii. PRIMARY SCHOOL : 986
iii. MIDDLE SCHOOL : 147
iv. HIGH SCHOOL : 85
v. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL : 56
6. SCHOOLS FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION : NIL
7. SCHOOLS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION : 6
8. INSTITUTIONS FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL
EDUCATION : 19
9. TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE : 1

3.17 Consumption of Fertilizers and Pesticides

The fertilizer dose depends upon the fertility of soil and amount of organic
manure applied to the crop. For a good yield, 40-50 t/ha of well-decomposed FYM
is incorporated into the soil. The recommended fertilizer dose for optimum yield is
as follows.

Quantity of Fertilizers ( g/plant )

Varieties 3rd month 4th month 5th month

Urea SSP MOP Urea SSP MOP Urea SSP MOP

Poovan, Rasthali
140 155 130 230 155 320 90 175
& Karpuravalli
D.Cavendish,
15 155 130 250 105 320 150 225
Robusta & Nendran
Other varieties 110 110 130 155 110 300 90 160
(Source : NRC Banana)

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Fertilizer dosage for tissue culture banana is given below:

Fertilizer Dose (g/plant)

Days after Planting Urea/
SSP MOP
Ammonium Sulphate
30 45/100 125 50
75 90/195 125 85
110 110/245 125 85
150 110/245 125 100
180 90/195 125 100
At bunch emergence -/- - 85

3.18 Electricity
A. GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY (IN m.u.)
THERE IS NO POWER STATION WITH IN THE DISTRICT
B. CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY(IN m.u)KWH
a. AGRICULTURE : NIL
b. INDUSTRY : 237.63
c. COMMERCIAL : 24.161
d. DOMESTIC : 104.22
e. PUBLIC LIGHTNING & WATER
WORKS : 16.34
f. SALES TO LICENSE : NIL
g. SALES TO OTHER STATES : NIL
h. MISCELLANEOUS : 4.10
C. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
1. NUMBER OF PUMPSETS ENERGISED : 17526
2. NUMBER OF VILLAGES ELECTRIFIED
VILLAGE &HAMLETS ARE ELECTRIFIED : ALL

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3.19 Harvesting Methods of Banana
Harvesting
 The dwarf bananas are ready for harvest within 11-14 months after planting,
while tall cultivars take about 14-16 months to harvest.
 A bunch usually takes 90-120 days to mature after shooting.
 The maturity of banana is indicated by drying of top leaves, change in colour of
the fruits from dark green to light green and tendency of the floral end of the
fruit to fall by slightest touch by hand.
 The mature fruit becomes plumpy and all the angles are filled in completely.
When tapped, the fruit gives metallic sound.
Methods
 Low growing varieties are harvested by cutting through the bunch stalk about
30-35 cm above the top hand.
 With taller varieties, the stem of the plant will be partly cut through to bring the
bunch down within the harvester's reach.
Dehandling
 After harvest, the dehandling should be carried out with a sharp, clean banana
knife, making a smooth cut as close as possible to the stem.
 After dehandling, the fruits are placed with the crown facing downwards onto a
layer of leaves to allow for latex drainage.
 In order to restrict crown disease development, the hands should be dipped in a
solution of 0.1 per cent Benlate or Thiabendazole.
Stowing
 After harvest banana bunches are arranged in rows with the cut ends of pedicel
upward, called stowing.
 Stowing is required at two stages.
 Soon after harvest, the bunches re-stowed in the field usually over a bed of
banana leaves.
 Before a carriage arrives, harvested bunches continue to remain stowed in this
condition which pave way to spread of inoculums to healthy sites.

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 During transport and at the wholesalers godown the bunches are again stowed
before sending them to ripening room.
 During stowing the fruits are invariably subjected to mechanical or insect
injury in addition to the spread of pathogens carried from field in latent
condition or prevalent under local condition of storage.
Packaging
 The arrangement of fruits in box has to be horizontal in two rows keeping
crown end towards box side and fruit tips towards the center of the box.
 While packing in single layer, the hands should be placed in the vertical
positions by keeping their tips up and crown downside.
 Cushioning pads or kraft paper should be placed at the bottom of the box and
fruit may be covered in LDPE liner of 100 gauges inside the box to create
modified atmosphere.
Precooling
 The fruit destined for the distant and export market should be precooled
considerably for extending the storage life.
 Precooling of the produce should be done within 10 - 12 hrs of bunch
harvesting.
 The fruit packed in boxes should be precooled by forced air cooling at 13° C
and 85 – 90 per cent RH.
 It may take 6 to 8 hrs to bring the fruit pulp temperature to 13° C from field
temperature of 30° C to 35° C.
 The boxes should be immediately moved to cold rooms for storage purpose.
Storage
 Bananas can be exported successfully by sea-shipment if the guidelines related
to harvest maturity are strictly followed.
 Storage conditions of 13° C and 85% to 95% relative humidity are required.
 Storage temperature below 13° C would cause chilling injury to fruits resulting
in surface discolouration, dull colour, failure to ripen and browning of flesh.
 The storage life at 13° C depends on the cultivar and varies from 3 to 4 weeks.

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 A combination of low temperature with controlled atmosphere storage can
further extend the storage life.
 Banana (Robusta cvr.) fruits could be stored in green unripe condition for 8
weeks under controlled atmosphere storage condition of 5% O2 + 5% CO2 at
12° C to 13° C with post storage ripening period of 4 to 5 days under ambient
conditions.
Ripening
 Green bananas in boxes or cushioned plastic crates should be loaded into the
ripening room (lower temperatures can damage the fruit)
 The room should be closed, insulated and airtight and be maintained at 16 to
180C and 85-90 % RH. Temperature is controlled and maintained by
thermostat.
 Supply ethylene into the room at a concentration of around 100 ppm (0.01%)
 The ethylene act as a catalyst initiating the hormonal process of ripening.
 The room is kept closed for 24 hours. At the end of 24 hrs, room should be
ventilated to clear the ethylene gas and the carbondioxide released during the
initial ripening phase and maintain at 18° C reducing to 15° C over three to
four days.
Transportation
 The harvested bananas from the gardens located in villages are usually
transported as head loads, on ponies, as cart loads and as lorry loads, the
transport for interstate trade are mainly effected through lorry services and
railway wagons.
 Due to the difficulties faced by wholesalers to arrange wagons, too in correct
time, lorry transport is more depended in India

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