SETTLEMENT STUDIES
KHIJADIYA, GUJARAT
ECONOMY
Economy of Khijadiya is regulated highly by animal husbandry, cotton, peanuts and tea. All of these products are sold in the market. Trade and Agriculture are the two most important sources of income in this village
COTTON
PROCUREMENT
MARCH
Purchased from Jamnagar.
Rates are - ₹ 1,100 for 1 Kg.
Amount of seeds required per acre - 1.5 kg.
Piece per acre for seed - ₹ 1,650.
Seed types: ● BT Cotton (hybrid) - banned due to too much pesticide content. ● Bagad (natural) cotton
PLOUGHING
MARCH - APRIL
Done mainly with the help of tractors but sometimes also bulls. To ready and replenish the soil after previous harvest. No crops for 3 months which acts as rest period. To increase fertility cow dung is added.
Price - 1 trolley (1.5-2 tons) for ₹ 3,500.
EARLY GROWTH
APRIL - JUNE
● SOWING Done by tractors or bull drawn seed drills or done by hand. Depth not more than 1 inch. Spacing between seeds is 1.5 foot.
● IRRIGATION If not much rainfall then light irrigation is applied. Sapling grows within 4-5 days. Small pipelines set up by big farmers for an hourly rate of ₹ 80. JUNE - JULY
● SAATHI First weed control is done after 2-3 months. Small tractors or bulls equipped with blades are used to uproot the weeds.
● FERTILISERS Fertilisers with nitrogen like urea are used. Applied in intervals of 15 days maybe more or less
VEGETATIVE GROWTH
JULY - OCTOBER
Irrigation is applied every 7-10 days depending on rainfall. If pests are found chemical or bio pesticides are used. Farmers grow ‘Tur dal’ or ‘Mustard’ (Rai) to improve soil fertility.
● FLOWERING Starts 2 months after sowing. Green buds start forming. Most important phase as cotton starts forming inside the bud.
● OPENING White cotton balls start becoming visible. One final spray of pesticide is done. Harvest preparation. depending upon the growth of crops
HARVEST
NOVEMBER - JANUARY
Skilled pickers called from Punjab, Rajasthan. Multiple rounds of picking done. 3-4 rounds are usually done depending on yield.
Labour cost: ₹130 per 20 kgs picked. Local pickers pick 40-50 kgs a day. Skilled pickers pick 300-400 kgs a day.
Round done in intervals of 2-3 weeks. Cotton seeds and fibre are separated.
SELLING
JANUARY - MARCH
Cotton is sold in ‘Hapa market’ near Jamnagar Sold for ₹1,300 - ₹1,400 per 20 kgs. Rates regulated by government.
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ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
In Khijadiya, animal husbandry is a thriving practice, with a variety of cow and buffalo breeds being reared.
There are about 150 cows and 600 bulls in the village.
Jersey cows produce 15-20 liters of milk daily, while Desi and Gir cows yield 10-15 liters and 15-20 liters, respectively.
Cows are typically sold after 2 births, aged 20-25 years, for ₹70,000 - ₹80,000.
Buffalo breeds like Surti and Jaffarabadi are also prized for their milk production. The animals are fed a diet of makka, makai, and sukha chara
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FACTORY
The factory is a compact, three-room facility housing 22 machines, a warehouse, and a wealth of industrial experience.
Situated near the entrance of a village, it operates amidst the quietude of its surroundings, yet inside, the sound of machinery dominates. Housed within an old building that once resembled typical village homes, the factory specializes in the production of screws, an essential component for the local community. Tools are meticulously maintained for efficiency, and despite its limited space, the factory serves as a center of both production and informal social interaction. The distinct odor of heated machinery and oil permeates the air while walking in and around it.
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