*The figures in brackets are in acres.

TABLE No. 11

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN AMRAVATI DISTRICT, 1962.63

(In hectares)

Figures in brackets are in acres.

Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings.

Sub-division and fragmentation of holdings are one of the  principal reasons for uneconomic and less productive agriculture. The heavy pressure of growing population on agriculture  coupled with the customary laws of inheritance has resulted in sub-dividing agricultural plots into smaller holdings. The  problem is further aggravated because these fragments are not  only small but are scattered all over. Consequently the cost of agricultural operations has increased. The farmer has to take  his bullocks and implements from one fragment to another which involves waste of time and labour. Close supervision also becomes very difficult. Some land is wasted in marking boundaries and bunds. The uneconomic holdings make it difficult to carry out any permanent improvements on the land. The farmer cannot spend on digging wells and providing draining facilities. This affects the productivity of agriculture. It was therefore deemed necessary to prevent sub-division of small holdings and to consolidate the fragmented plots of land. The then Government of Bombay enacted the Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Ho¹ dings Act of 1947, which was made applicable to Amravati district recently.

The Act provides for determination of local standard areas and treatment of fragments, procedure for consolidation and actual consolidation. It also aims at prevention of further fragmentation. A fragment is defined as a plot which is smaller than the standard area determined under the Act. A standard area in respect of any class of land means the area which the Government determines, from time to time, as the minimum area necessary for remunerative cultivation in any area.

The standard area is determined after holding the requisite enquiries about the quality and productivity of land, and after consulting the District Advisory Committee set up for the purpose. The Government takes into account the objections received within three months of the publication of the provisionally settled minimum areas and then the standard area for each class of land in a local area is determined. The Act prescribes that the fragments must he noted in the Record of Rights and village records, and notices must be served to all persons concerned. After the issue of such notices, the transfer of fragments is prohibited unless the transfer proposes to merge such a fragment in a contiguous survey number or in a recognised sub-division thereof. The holder of the fragment or his heirs can cultivate and inherit it, but in case of sale or lease, it can be sold or leased to the contiguous holder only. No plot of land can be transferred or partitioned so as to create a fragment. Such transfer or partition contrary to the provisions of the Act is deemed void and the owner of such a land is liable to pay the prescribed fine. If the contiguous holder is unwilling to purchase the fragment or purposely makes a low bid, the Government can purchase it after giving compensation payable under the provision of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The Act also provides for the consolidation of holdings into compact blocks. The process, however, involves some problems, such as, field inspection, valuation or all scattered holdings and their re-distribution in such a manner as to accord a fair deal to the parties concerned. Re-distribution of land is done within the existing proprietary rights. It is also implied that every-body should get land of the same value and of equal productivity in the process of exchange, For this purpose, lands of equal fertility and outturn are chosen for an exchange. There is a provision of payment of compensation in case this is not feasible. The farmer to whom the holding is allotted is granted the same rights like lease, mortgage, etc., as the previous owner. It is laid down that the interests of tenants are to be safeguarded and that no person shall be rendered landless.

Table No. 11 reveals that the largest number of landholders, viz., 84,981, possess less than five acres of land; whereas the highest acreage of land, viz., 6,28,777.28, is possessed by persons holding between 25 to 100 acres of land.

Though reliable data about the average size of holdings are not available, it may be noted here that the problem of small holdings is not very acute in Amravati district. The average size of holdings is much larger than what it is in some other parts of the State.