The Hindu : Front Page : Sharp increase in farmland fragmentation in State

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Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Sharp increase in farmland fragmentation in State

Nagesh Prabhu

Acquisition by government and sale by farmers in distress are the major reasons

BANGALORE: The average size of operational farm holdings in the State has declined by 49 per cent over the last three decades.

Agricultural holdings have been fragmented and subdivided mainly to cater to the demand of non-farming activities, including industry. The erosion of joint families has also hastened the decline in the size of farm holdings.

Report

The Eighth Agricultural Census Report – Part I (2007) brought out by the State Government indicated that the average size of operational holdings declined significantly from 3.20 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.63 hectares in 2005-06, a decline of 49.1 per cent.

The census was conducted with the objective of collecting data on the number and area of operational holdings, use of fertilizers and organic manures, agricultural implements, livestock, and access to credit and certified seeds in the State.

The total number of operational holdings registered an increase from 70.79 lakh in 2000-01 to 75.81 lakh in 2005-06, an increase of 7.1 per cent.

Census

During the first agricultural census in 1970-71, the number of operational holdings was 35.51 lakh.

The marginal holdings, which constituted less than one hectare, accounted for 48.2 per cent of the total holdings, followed by small holdings (1 to 2 hectares) – 26.60 per cent; semi-medium holdings (2 to 4 hectares) – 16.9 per cent; medium holdings (4 to 10 hectares) – 7.30 per cent; and large holdings (10 hectares and above) – one per cent.

Factors

Agricultural scientists and economists are of the view that the average size of the operational holdings declined on account of several factors. Acquisition of farmland by the government for industrial parks, special economic zones and mega industries led to the decline in the availability of land for cultivation, particularly in districts such as Bangalore Urban and Rural, Mysore, Dakshina Kannada and Dharwad.

Urbanisation and sale of farmland by farmers in distress were the other factors that reduced the size of individual holdings.

Interestingly, among the social groups, the total number of holdings of Scheduled Castes group (8.82 lakh) increased by 7.2 per cent during the last five years. In case of Scheduled Tribes, the number is up from 3.82 lakh in 2000-01 to 4.39 lakh, an increase of 14.9 per cent.

Decline

The survey showed that the area operated by the Scheduled Castes group declined in Bijapur, Haveri and Shimoga districts during the last five years.

Similar trend was found for the Scheduled Tribes group in Bijapur, Koppal, Chikmagalur, Bangalore Urban and Rural districts.

The area operated by the Scheduled Castes group increased by 20 per cent in Dakshina Kannada district, while it is only 1.1 per cent in Gulbarga district in the last five years.

Gulbarga tops the list

The district-wise data revealed that Gulbarga topped the list with 5.76 lakh operational holdings, followed by Belgaum 5.33 lakh holdings, Mandya 5.24 lakh, Hassan 4.71 lakh, Tumkur 4.23 lakh, and Kodadu ranked last with 0.72 lakh.

With regard to average size of operational holdings, Bijapur district secured the top place with 3.03 hectares of land followed by Dharwad district 2.75 hectares, Gadag 2.39 hectares, Kodagu 2.43 hectares, Gulbarga 2.39 hectares, Bagalkot and Raichur 2.29 hectares, and Mandya district 0.61.

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