Lok Sabha Question No. 2973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Decline in Agricultural Land
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2973

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 th  MARCH, 2026

## DECLINE IN AGRICULTURAL LAND

## 2973. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a year-on-year decrease in the agricultural land in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to check the said declining trend;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to convert wasteland into cultivable land; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (e) : Land and agriculture are State subjects. As per Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the  Seventh Schedule of the  Constitution  of  India,  land  falls  under  the jurisdiction  of  State Governments, which are responsible for  taking  appropriate  measures  to  increase  the  area under cultivation and ensure optimal use of agricultural lands. However, the Government of India supports these efforts through policy initiatives and budgetary assistance.

As  per  the  latest  annual  publication  'Land  Use  Statistics-at  a  Glance  2023-24',  the extent of agricultural land in the country has remained relatively stable, reflecting sustained agricultural capacity across the country. The adoption of modern technologies and effective policy interventions has also led to a continuous improvement in cropping intensity, which has risen from 142.5% in 2013-14 to 156.8% in 2023-24, reflecting a positive shift toward multiple cropping practices, highlighting farmers' enhanced ability to cultivate the same land more than once annually. The details of agricultural area in the country during 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are 180112, 179982 and 179596 thousand hectares , respectively.

Department of Land Resources is implementing Watershed Development Component of  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (WDC-PMKSY)  which  primarily  focuses  on development  rainfed/  degraded  lands.  The  activities  undertaken  in  the  scheme,  inter  alia, include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc. The measures taken under WDC-PMKSY supplements the effort of the Government to increase the  area  under  cultivation.  This  scheme  has  been  approved  by  the  Government  on  15 th December, 2021.

Further,  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  several technological measures to increase the area under cultivation. This includes location specific bio-engineering to check soil erosion due to run-off of rainwater, sand dune stabilization and shelter belt technology to check wind erosion and reclamation technology for problem soils in the  country.  ICAR  has  also  developed  the  gypsum  technology  package,  consisting of  land levelling, bunding, flushing, removal of excess water, good quality irrigation water, application of amendments, selection of crops and efficient nutrient management.

*****