AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

HOLDINGS

Amongst the numerous factors that affected the economics of Indian agriculture to a very great extent, the Second World War could be regarded as one. The country then had to face unprecedented food deficit. This forced upon the country the urgent necessity of growing more food to stave off the deficit. Efforts were made in all directions to find out the causes of low productivity and remove them so as to increase output and make agriculture prosperous. The most important of them were noticed as the evils arising out of sub-division and fragmentation of holdings.

In fact the smallness and scatteredness of the agricultural holding has been the biggest single factor which reduced agricultural production to a very great extent. As a result, it was uniformly recommended by various agricultural reforms committees and Stale Governments to consolidate the small and scattered holdings. Before discussing the features and impact of the legislation in this behalf, it is essential to know the meaning of the two terms viz., sub-division and fragmentation of an agricultural holding. The sub-division mainly refers to the distribution of the land of a common ancestor amongst his successors in interest. This can take place in a number of ways when the common ancestor dies and the properly is divided among his sons, when a land owner sells or makes a gift of a part of his laud, or when a moneylender takes part of it in lieu of payment of debt. This sub-division is mainly governed by the laws of inheritance of the Hindus and Muslims which generally enjoin succession to immoveable property by all the heirs usually in equal shares. The ever increasing pressure of population and the extremely slow pace of industrial development in the countryside are regarded as the most important causes of sub-division. The individualistic attitude as a right to property which could be considered as the effect of western ideas also placed a sort of premium on the partition of properly. These and other causes Helped in reducing the size of the farm to the most uneconomic unit with each succeeding generation. Fragmentation, on the oilier hand, is the result of the way in which the laws of inheritance are carried into effect. It refers to the manner in which the land held by an individual or undivided family is scattered throughout the village area in plots separated by the lands in the possession of others. Thus, if a owner cultivator with four isolated fields of one acre each, dies leaving four sons, the latter will take, not one field each but one-fourth of each field each. The result is, therefore, four acres of land originally held as one holding in four fragments, now becomes four holdings made up of sixteen fragmerits. It is thus clear that sub-division and fragmentation lead to the emergence of extremely uneconomic holdings which yield surprisingly insufficient income for supporting a small unit of family.

Both sub-division and fragmentation bring a number of evils with them. For example, when the holding gets smaller the proportion of the fixed costs of bullocks, agricultural implements, etc., to the total costs of cultivation increases. The variable costs of fencing, of manure, of seeds, etc., also increase. Use of modern scientific machinery and tools, and making some permanent improvements to land such as construction of a well, etc., become uneconomic. Again a great deal of a portion of land is wasted in demarcating the boundaries of each separate property. Fragmentation makes very difficult to carry out agricultural operations with minimum cost and within a short period. It requires movement from one field to another involving waste of lime, energy and money, Ploughing, harrowing, sowing and watching of crops, etc., are very difficult to carry out in time and at low cost when holdings are intensely fragmented. The farmer has little incentive in avoiding soil erosion, maintaining correct levels. making provision for surface drainage, footpaths, irrigation channels, etc. Expensive laud litigation on account of boundaries, irrigation channels, etc., is also an important effect of fragmentation.

Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947. Among the various socio-economic measures prescribed as national policy to improve Indian agriculture, consolidation of holdings is an important one. In the erstwhile Bombay Province such efforts were made under Bombay Small Holdings Bill, 1927. This bill forestalled many of the provisions of the Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act. 1947. Though the bill had some good features, it had to be dropped owing to strenuous opposition both within and outside the Council. This was followed by another bill which was finally enacted by the popular ministry of Bombay State in 1947. Since then, the enactment viz., the Bombay Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, aims to achieve this end. Under this Act it is intended to bring together all the uneconomic and scattered fragments of land by converting them into profitable and economic units of cultivation.

To implement the provisions of the Act 'standard areas' which, are the minimum areas of land determined under the Act for profitable cultivation have been fixed for different classes of lands. These 'standard areas' vary according to the differences in quality of soil, climate, cost of cultivation, etc. The following are standard areas fixed for different classes of land in the district.

All holdings of land less in area than the standard areas are treated as fragments and their transfer except to holders of contiguous plots is prohibited. The Act also prohibits future fragmentation. Besides, the Act empowers the Government to prepare and execute schemes for consolidation whereby compact blocks are formed by bringing together the scattered fragments on mutual exchange. The procedure relating to consolidation of small holdings, includes the transfer of tenurial rights and other encumbrances, such as debts. Those affected by such transactions are compensated by the Government as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act. The existing market value of the land is taken into account while exchanging the small holdings.

The scheme of consolidation was first put into operation in Akola tahsil in the district and was finally enforced in ten villages in Akola tahsil on the dates shown against the names of the villages during the years 1962-63 and 1963-64 as follows:-

The following tables give tahsilwise classification of land holdings in government rayatwari area in the district according to size.

TABLE No. 4

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in Akola tahsil in 1968-69

A. Covers persons who cultivate land themselves with or without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or farm servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent. but do not directly or indirectly take part in cultivation.

TABLE No. 5

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in Akot tahsil in 1968-69

continued..

A. Covers persons who cultivate land themselves with or without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or farm servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent, but do not directly or indirectly take part in cultivation.

TABLE No. 6

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in Balapur tahsil in 1968-69

A. Covers persons who cultivate land themselves with or without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or farm servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent, but do not directly or indirectly take part in cultivation.

TABLE No. 7

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in Mangrulpir tahsil in 1968-69

A. Covers persons who cultivate land themselves with or without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or farm servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent, but do not directly or indirectly take part in cultivation.

TABLE No. 8

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in
 Murtizapur  tahsil in 166-69

A. Covers persons who cultivate land themselves with or without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or farm servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent, but do not directly or indirectly take part in cultivation.

TABLE No. 9

Classification of land holdings in Government Rayatwari area in Washim tahsil in 1968-69

continued..

A. Covers persons who and themselves with o; without the help of hired labour.

B. Covers persons who do not cultivate land themselves, but supervise and direct cultivation by labourers or far servants.

C. Covers persons who receive rent but do not directly or indirectly take par; in cultivation

TOP