India's Cultivable Land Continues to Shrink.. Is Pose Problem for the Nation's Food Security.?

India: Cultivable Land Continues to Shrink..

Gujarat is the only big state which increased the area of cultivable land..

Cultivable land in our country India continues to shrink. It may not pose an immediate problem for the nation's food security. But,  its long-term effect could be disastrous with the country needing more and more foodgrains to support its growing population.

Latest data from the India's agriculture ministry shows that as many as 20 states reported decrease in cultivable land to the extent of 7,90,000 hectares in 4 years from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

The decrease is mainly attributed to diversion of cultivable land for non-agricultural purposes, including construction, industries & other development activities.

Since such diversion is inevitable, the government had in its National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (NRRP), 2007 recommended several measures to keep a tab on ever-decreasing cultivable land in the country.

 

But the data, shared by the agriculture ministry in response to a question in Lok Sabha on recently, shows that only 5 states have taken some steps to increase the areas under cultivation and 3 others (Assam, Goa & Sikkim) have adhered to the policy of not tinkering with land which can be used for farming.

Gujarat is the only big state which increased the area of cultivable land during four years from 2007- 08 to 2010 -11.

Manipur, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are the other states which reported increase during the period.

Haryana showed the sharpest decline in area under cultivation. The small state, which has seen diversion of huge tracts of cultivable land due to boom in real estate, reported decrease of about  65,000 hectares of agricultural land between 2007-08 and 2010-11.

Since, land falls under the purview of states as per the 7th Schedule of the Constitution, it is for states to bring in suitable policy to prevent diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. The Central goverment had under its 2007 policy advised states to allow development projects to come up on wastelands.

Under NRRP, Indian states were advised that acquisition of agricultural land for non-agricultural use should be kept to the minimum, multi-cropped land should be avoided to the extent possible for such purposes &  acquisition of irrigated land, if unavoidable, may be kept to the minimum.

But it seems most states have not followed the norms, leading to overall decrease of about 4,06,000 hectares of cultivable land in the country during the 4 year period.

Though the shrinkage did not have adverse impact on foodgrain production as the country reported increase from 23 crore tonnes in 2007-08 to 25.54 crore tonnes in 2012-13, the ever declining trend of cultivable land may pose a serious challenge in the long run.

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