Lok Sabha Question No. 1785 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Barren and Unutilised Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

O.I.H.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1785

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  6 TH  MARCH, 2018

## BARREN AND UNUTILISED LAND

1785.  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the area of agricultural land in hectares lying unused or barren in the country;
- (b) whether  the  shortage  of  water  has  also  been  a  factor  on  account  of  which farmers are unable to sow their farms; and
- (c) if so, whether the Government proposes to promote solar farming in such areas?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): As  per  report  on  Land  Use  Statistics  for  2014-15  (latest  available),  the agricultural  land  consists  of  (i)  net  area  sown,  (ii)  current  fallow  land  (iii)  fallow  land other  than  current  fallow  land  (iv)  culturable  wasteland  (v)  Land  Under  misc.  Tree, Crops and groves not included in net area sown. The details of area under agricultural land and agricultural land in hectares lying unused (culturable waste land and Fallow land other than current fallow) or barren is given as under:

(hectares)

| (a) Agricultural land                                                                                                     |   181886066 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
| Net area sown                                                                                                             |   140130018 |
| Current fallow land                                                                                                       |    15090813 |
| Fallow land other than current fallow land                                                                                |    11091648 |
| Culturable wasteland                                                                                                      |    12469480 |
| Land Under misc. Tree, Crops and groves not included in net area sown                                                     |     3104107 |
| (b) Area under agricultural land lying unused (culturable waste land and Fallow land other than current fallow) or barren |    23561128 |

The  area  of  agricultural  land  lying  unused  or  barren  may  be  either  fallow  or covered with shrubs and jungles, which are not put to any use for some reason or other which may include shortage of water.

(c): Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under its Off-grid and Decentralized  Solar  PV  Applications  Programme  provides  financial  support  to  the farmers throughout the country for installation of Solar Water Pumping Systems. Central Financial  Assistance  (CFA)  of  up  to  30%  of  the  benchmark  cost  of  the  system  is provided under the Programme, which is being implemented through Nodal Agencies of MNRE  in  the  States.  Solar  water  pumping  systems  are  sanctioned  by  the  Ministry based on demand aggregated by the State Nodal Agencies.

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