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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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HOLDINGS
The study of the size of agricultural holdings is very important in the context of productivity of agriculture and well-being of the agricultural population. With the increase in population over the past few decades the pressure of population on available land has also increased and consequently the size of holdings is getting smaller and smaller due to sub-division and fragmentation of the existing holdings. The customary laws of inheritance and succession are also partly responsible for the small size of holdings.
The agricultural holdings in the district are divided into three classes, viz., A, B and C. Class A comprises persons who cultivate land by themselves with or without the aid of hired labour; class B consists of those who do not cultivate land by themselves but supervise and direct cultivation by farm servants; while class C comprises persons who receive rent from the land but do not participate directly or indirectly in cultivation. Broadly speaking, persons in the first two classes can be styled cultivators, while those in the last class can be described as non-cultivating owners. The quinquennial statement of holdings given in Table No. 5 gives an idea of the distribution of khalsa lands among the holders in relation to various magnitude groups.
TABLE No. 5
QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS IN GOVERNMENT RYOTWARI AREA IN BULDHANA DISTRICT, 1968-69.
|
Magnitude Group |
Class A |
Class B | |
No. of persons |
Area held in acres |
No. of persons |
Area held in acres | |
Khalsa |
Inam |
Khalsa |
Inam |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
Up to 5 acres |
58,042 |
1,95,360 |
-- |
17,860 |
46,636 |
-- |
Over 5 acres, up to 15 acres. |
51,274 |
3,99,169 |
-- |
15,371 |
1,45,212 |
-- |
Over 15 acres, up to 25 acres. |
15,358 |
3,06,709 |
-- |
4,571 |
70,753 |
-- |
Over 25 acres, up to 100 acres. |
13,188 |
3,16,217 |
-- |
6,003 |
3,98,197 |
-- |
Over 100 acres, up to 500 acres. |
43 |
5,715 |
-- |
326 |
45,033 |
-- |
Over 500 acres |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
TABLE No. 5 — contd.
|
Magnitude Group |
Class C |
Total | |
No. of persons |
Area held in acres |
No. of persons |
Area held in acres | |
Khalsa |
Inam |
Khalsa |
Inam |
|
(1) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
Up to 5 acres |
325 |
1,334 |
-- |
76,227 |
2,43,350 |
-- |
Over 5 acres, up to 15 acres. |
279 |
2,662 |
-- |
66,924 |
5,47,043 |
-- |
Over 15 acres, up to 25 acres. |
431 |
7,319 |
-- |
20,360 |
3,84,781 |
-- |
Over 25 acres, up to 100 acres. |
412 |
19,457 |
-- |
19,603 |
7,33,871 |
-- |
Over 100 acres, up to 500 acres. |
53 |
18,100 |
-- |
422 |
68,848 |
-- |
Over 500 acres |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
This statement reveals that the largest number of landholders, viz. 76,227 possess less than five acres of land, whereas the highest acreage of land, viz., 7,33,871 is possessed by persons holding between 25 to 100 acres of land.
Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holding.—Subdivision 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 Government of Bombay enacted the Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1947, which was made applicable fo Buldhana 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.
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