Lok Sabha Question No. 2561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: Fragmentation in Cultivable Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2561

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST, 2016

## FRAGMENTATION IN CULTIVABLE LAND

2561.  SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

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

- (a) whether there has been an increase in the fragmentation of cultivable/agricultural land in the country and if so, the extent thereof during the last three years;
- (b) the per capita land holding of small, marginal and big farmers at present in the country;
- (c) whether  the  said  fragmentation  has  had  an  impact  on  agricultural  production  in  the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी ( SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA )

- (a): Yes, Madam.  Information on operational holdings in various size categories is collected through  Agriculture  Census,  once  in  every  five  years.    According  to  the  last  two  Agriculture Census, the total number of operational holdings has increased from 129.22 million in 2005-06 to 138.35 million in 2010-11. Also, the average size of operational holding has decreased from 1.23 hectare to 1.15 hectare during the same period.
- (b): As  per  the  latest  Agriculture  Census  2010-11,  average  size  of  various  categories  of operational holdings in the country is given below:-

|   Sl. No. | Size group of operational holdings   |   Average size of operational holdings (in hectare) |
|-----------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Marginal (Below 1.0 ha)              |                                                0.39 |
|         2 | Small (1.0-2.0 ha)                   |                                                1.42 |
|         3 | Semi-Medium (2.0-4.0 ha)             |                                                2.71 |
|         4 | Medium (4.0-10.0 ha)                 |                                                5.76 |
|         5 | Large (10.0 ha and above)            |                                               17.38 |
|         6 | All Size-Groups                      |                                                1.15 |

(c): No,  Madam.  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:-

| All-India production of Food Grain   | All-India production of Food Grain   | All-India production of Food Grain   |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                              | Year                                 | Production(Million Tonnes)           |
| 1.                                   | 2000-01                              | 196.81                               |
| 2.                                   | 2005-06                              | 208.60                               |
| 3.                                   | 2010-11                              | 244.49                               |
| 4.                                   | 2015-16                              | 252.23*                              |

* As on 09.05.2016, (Third Advance Estimate)

Thus, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that fragmentation of land holding has resulted into adverse impact on agricultural production.

(d): The Government has taken several measures to increase production and productivity of land holdings in the country. These include adoption of modern technologies and practices like multiple cropping, intercropping and integrated farming systems. Support is provided to farmers on  seeds,  bio-agents,  bio-fertilizers,  improved  farm  implements,  etc.  The  ICAR  is  conducting research programmes to develop location specific varieties and technologies as per the agroecological needs for enhancing the production and productivity and to make small land holdings more viable.

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