As ‘land’ is a State subject under the Constitution, different States have evolved differently in the field of land management. In fact there may be different systems in different regions of the same State also. The Central Government has only a limited role to play in this regard.At the time of independence, the land tenure system was characterized by intermediaries variously called zamindars, jagirdars, etc. who merely collected rent from the actual tillers of the soil without contributing towards improvements on the farm.
Recent Developments Fragmentation of Land Holding India witnessed a jump in the number of operational farmlands between 2010-11 and 2015-16, but the same period also saw the average size of these land holdings and the area they cover take a dip, shows the provisional Agriculture Census released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Slow Land Reforms Posing Downside Risk for Infra Projects The recent research done by Fitch Solutions, an affiliate of Fitch Ratings reveals that-
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The recent agricultural sector dialogue focuses on supply chain efficiency or improving the quality of inputs like seeds and fertilisers. Land is one key issue that is often ignored. While land is an input that cannot be created, its value can be destroyed through poor policy. When it comes to land, there are two specific areas, where the government has faltered over the last 70 years. These include:
Land Market: The present status of land market in India inhibits agricultural productivity. According to the 2010-11 Report on Agriculture Census, 85 per cent of India’s total operational land holdings are less than 2 hectares in area. The yield from such small plots is barely enough to feed the farmer’s family, leaving very little produce to sell in the market.
A 2013 NSSO report estimates 13 per cent of household lease land, but other reports by NGOs suggest this could well be 50 per cent due to informal tenancy arrangements.
Land Records: Without accurate land records, it’s difficult for farmers to access critical welfare schemes. The government spends close to one per cent of GDP on fertiliser subsidies every year, while other huge subsidies exist for seeds, pesticides, crop insurance, and farm loans. But, if underlying land records don’t reflect the true names of owners, lessors, and cultivators or the correct size of the plots, the benefits won’t reach the targeted beneficiaries.
It refers to an institutional measure directed towards altering the existing pattern of ownership, tenancy and management of land. It entails “a redistribution of the rights of ownership and/or use of land away from large landowners and in favour of cultivators with very limited or no landholdings.” Thus, in a broad sense, land reform refers to an improvement in agro-economic institutions. It includes measures and policies relating to redistribution of land, regulation of rent, improving the conditions of tenancy, cooperative organisation, agricultural education, and so on.
Objectives of Land Reforms
Reasons for the Failure of Land Reform