Lok Sabha Question No. 1990 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Decrease in Agricultural Holdings
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Behanan Benny

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1990

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020

## DECREASE IN AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS

1990.   SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  into  account  the  fact  that  the  average  size  of agricultural  land  holdings  in  India  was  2.28  hectares  in  1970-71  which  was  reduced  to  1.82 hectares in 1980-81 and 1.50 hectares in 1995-96, while formulating various programmes for doubling agricultural income, as stated in the budget for 2020-21 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the size of the agricultural land holdings is expected to further decrease with the infinite  sub-division  of  the  land  holdings  in  future,  especially  in  densely  populated  States  like Kerala, if so, whether there are any studies by the central agencies on this phenomenon;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the decreasing land holdings will adversely affect the overall food security of the country and if so, the views of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  to  (c):      The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Co-operation  and  Farmers  Welfare  conducts agriculture  census  every  five  years  to  collect  data  on  structural  characteristics  of  agricultural sector  including  size  of  agriculture  land  holdings  in  the  country.  As  per  the  latest  information available from Agriculture Census, the average size of operational holdings has decreased from 2.28 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.84 hectares in 1980-81, to 1.41 hectares in 1995-96 and to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16.

Considering the declining trends observed in the size of agriculture holdings in the past and the prospective increase in population over time, the fragmentation of holdings is likely to continue  and  the  average  size  of  operational  holdings  is  expected  to  further  decrease  in  the country including Kerala.

In  order  to  make  small  holdings  more  viable  and  to  assist  augmentation  of  farm incomes, Government has taken several measures including adoption of modern technologies and practices like multiple cropping, intercropping and integrated farming systems. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is conducting research programmes to develop location specific  varieties  and  technologies  for  enhancing  the  production  and  productivity  of  farm holdings. Support  is  also  provided  to  farmers  (including  small  and  marginal  farmers)  through initiatives  and  programmes  of  the  Government  like  Interest  Subvention  Scheme,  Mission  for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Neem Coated Urea, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) etc.

(d): Except  in  the  years  of  adverse  weather,  rainfall,  temperature  conditions,  natural calamities etc., the production and productivity (per hectare production) of agriculture crops in the country has been generally increasing, as observed in the table given below:

* Second advance estimate

| All-India production of Food grains   | All-India production of Food grains   | All-India production of Food grains   |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                               | Year                                  | Production (Million Tonnes)           |
| 1                                     | 2000-01                               | 196.81                                |
| 2                                     | 2005-06                               | 208.60                                |
| 3                                     | 2010-11                               | 244.49                                |
| 4                                     | 2015-16                               | 251.54                                |
| 5                                     | 2016-17                               | 275.11                                |
| 6                                     | 2017-18                               | 285.01                                |
| 7                                     | 2018-19                               | 285.21                                |
| 8                                     | 2019-20                               | 291.95*                               |

Thus, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that fragmentation of land holdings has resulted in adverse impact on agricultural production/yield.

********