Growth of Irrigation in Maharashtra (1960-61 to 1971-72)

Maharashtra is often referred to as a 'progressive' State but its agricultural performance during the period under consideration is far from satisfactory. If one accepts the premise that a State should be able to feed its own population of which an undeniably large proportion is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, then the fact that the foodgrains production of Maharashtra has not only failed to register an increase but has actually gone down over the period is a matter for grave concern.