Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s22: 7. Cocoanut and other Plantations
Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s22
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7. Cocoanut and other Plantations
c18.s22.1
Among the instructions drawn up for the guidance of district officers we have seen one drawing their attention towards the planting of cocoanut trees. In one of our tables of land revenue, we have also seen that every cocoanut tree meant for the Peshwa's treasury an additional income of eight annas. Evidently cocoanut plantation was, therefore, very profitable for the government. But, as I have pointed out, the government knew how to wait, and was in no indecent haste to exact a share of the Rayats' hard-won profits. As we all know, cocoanut plantations do not immediately pay; consequently, labour and capital, invested in them, lay idle for a considerably long period, and the planters required special inducements and concessions. The Peshwa's government, therefore, refrained from taxing these costly plants until they were twenty years old.
c18.s22.2
"Should any person plant the following trees no tax shall be levied on their account for the number of years specified below :
c18.s22.3
| Cocoanut trees | ... | 18 or 20 years according to the nature of the land. |
| Betelnut trees | ... | 15 years. |
| Undani tree | ... | 12 " |
c18.s22.4
After the lapse of the above period the following levies shall be made:
c18.s22.5
For each cocoanut tree annas four and a load of loppings. For each cocoanut tree used by Bhandaris (liquor manufacturers) Rupee one and a load of loppings. For each betelnut tree, anna 1. For each Undani tree, annas 3.²¹
c18.s22.6
²¹ P. D., Vol. VI, pp. 242-245.
c18.s22.7
Similarly in a kaul granted to the Taluka Suvarnadurg for the better cultivation of bagayat lands, we read—"According to custom, cocoanut trees, on sandy soil, should be exempted from taxation until they are eighteen, and on red soil until twenty years old. Betelnut trees, jack trees, and Undani trees should not be taxed until they are fifteen and twelve years of age, respectively. Then each cocoanut tree should pay at the rate of 4 annas, Bhandari cocoanut at the rate of Re. 1, betelnut tree one anna and Undani and jack tree three annas respectively per year.²²
c18.s22.8
²² P. D., Vol. VI, pp. 246-247.
c18.s22.9
Thus cultivation of the specially profitable crops was encouraged by the adoption of special measures and special concessions.