AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

HOLDINGS

Size.

The size of holdings is bound to differ between any two districts as well as between talukas of the district due to a number of factors. However, the plot of land available for cultivation and number of persons entitled to share in it are of greater importance among them since they have a direct bearing on the problem. The number of persons entitled to share in a plot of land mainly depends upon the system of land tenure prevalent in the district. The customary laws of inheritance and succession arc also partly responsible for the small size of holdings, through the sub-division and fragmentation of holding. The average size of holding was the smallest in Mahabaleshwar taluka at 0.93 acre, whereas it was the biggest in Man taluka at 18.63 acres. The comparative position of the average size of holding in all the talukas of the district was as under:—

The holdings in the district are divided into three classes A, B and C. Class A comprises persons who cultivate land by themselves with or without the help of hired labour; class B consists of those who do not cultivate land by themselves but supervise and direct cultivation by farm servants or labourers; while class C comprises those persons who receive rent but do not participate directly or indirectly in cultivation. Each class is further sub-divided into khalsa lands and inam lands. Broadly speaking, persons in the first two classes can be styled as agriculturists, while those in the last class can be described as non-agriculturists. The following quinquennial statement of holdings in Satara district, in 1952-53, gives an idea of the distribution of khalsa and inam lands among the holders in relation to various magnitude groups:—

TABLE No. 9.

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT (1952-53).

The taluka-wise distribution of khalsa and inam rayatwari area among holders of Class A, B and C is indicated in the following table:—

TABLE No. 10.

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS (TALUKA-WISE) IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1952-53.

TABLE No. 10—concld.

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS (TALUKA-WISE) IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1952-53-contd.

TABLE No. 10-concld.

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS (TALUKA-WISE) IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1952-53-contd.

TABLE No. 10-concld.

QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT OF HOLDINGS (TALUKA-WISE) IN GOVERNMENT RAYATWARI AREA IN SATARA DISTRICT, 1952-53-concld.

Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947.

One of the main reasons for the low productivity of agriculture is the fragmentation of land holdings. Owing to the pressure of population on land and the customary laws of inheritance and succession, the cultivable land in the district has come to be divided and sub-divided into small fragments which prevent its economic cultivation. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that these fragments are not only small in size but are scattered all over. The cultivator has, therefore, to take his bullocks and implements from one plot or land to another which involves waste of time and labour. This also renders difficult careful watch over the crop. Moreover, unnecessary disputes over boundaries breed ill-feeling and involve litigation. The size of holdings is at times so small that it is extremely difficult to carry out any permanent improvements to the land with the result that many a time they are neglected and are allowed to lie idle or fallow. It was, therefore, necessary to bring the scattered holdings together into compact blocks with a view to improving agriculture and establishing, as far as possible, economic units of cultivation. To ensure the overall success of such a measure it was also essential to take simultaneous steps to prevent further sub-division as well as fragmentation of the existing plots of land. The Government passed an enactment entitled " Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947", to deal effectively with the situation.

The Act provides for prevention of fragmentation and consolidation of holdings. For this purpose it deals with determination of local standard areas and treatment of fragments, procedure for consolidation, and lastly, with the effect of consolidation proceedings, consolidation of holdings, etc. Its first part aims at putting an end to fragmentation of land any further. A fragment means a plot of land of less extent than the appropriate standard area determined under the Act. A standard area in respect of any class of land means the area which the Government may from time to time determine as the minimum area necessary for remunerative cultivation in any particular local area. In its latter part, it deals with consolidation of holdings which means amalgamation and where necessary, redistribution of holdings or portions thereof, in any village, mahal or taluka or any part thereof, so as to reduce the number of plots in holdings.

The Act authorises the State Government to settle provisionally, for any class of land in any local area, the standard area, i.e., the minimum area that can be cultivated profitably as a separate plot. This is clone after holding such enquiry as is deemed fit and after consulting the District Advisory Committee set up for the purpose. The provisionally settled areas are published in the official gazette with a view to inviting objections, if any, from the persons concerned. The Government takes into account whatever objections are received within three months of the publication of the provisionally settled minimum areas and then determines the standard area for each class of land in a local area. The Act prescribes that fragments must be entered in the Record of Rights and oilier village records and notices must be given to all persons and interests in the lands concerned. After the issue of such notices the transfer of the fragment is prohibited unless this transfer proposes to merge such a fragment in a contiguous survey number or in a recognised subdivision thereof. The fragment holder and his heir can cultivate and inherit the fragment; but, if at any time its owner wants to sell or lease it, it must be sold or leased to a contiguous holder who can merge it with his field. The Act provides that no land shall be transferred or partitioned so as to create a fragment and that transfer or partition of any land contrary to the provisions of the Act is deemed void and the owner of such land is liable to pay fine not exceeding Rs. 250. In case the contiguous holder is unwilling to purchase the fragment or purposely makes a low bid, the Government can purchase it on payment of compensation payable under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. It is pertinent to note in this connection that even in executing the decrees of Civil Courts, no partition or separation of a share resulting in the creation of a fragment is allowed. Similarly, the Act also prohibits the Government or a local body from acquiring or selling the land in a manner which will leave a fragment.

Thus, the edifice of the entire scheme of prevention of fragments hinges on the determination of the standard area by the Government. The fixation of the standard area is based on the economic size of the plot and not of a holding, which may be composed of several plots.

Naturally, such standard area pools together uneconomic fragments so as to form an efficient and economic unit of cultivation. The standard area at different places may vary in accordance with differences in the fertility of the soil, the cost of cultivation, etc.*

*The following figures indicate standard areas applicable in Satara District: —

The Act provides for the consolidation of holdings into compact blocks. This process is bound to work slowly, as it involves a series of problems before the scheme is successfully implemented. To mention only a few, field inspection and valuation of all scattered holdings and their re-distribution in such a manner as to ensure to the persons concerned a fair deal are some of the important as well as intricate problems. The basic principle implied in the scheme is that re-distribution of land is made within the existing proprietary rights and that in the process of exchange everybody should get land of the same value and of equal productivity. For this purpose, lands of equal fertility and out-turn are chosen for an exchange. But where this is not feasible, compensation has to be paid to the. cultivator parting with a better plot of land. The amount of compensation is determined in accordance with the provision of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and is recoverable from the other party receiving the better plot of land. Every owner to whom a holding is allotted is given the same rights in holding and encumbrances like a lease, mortgage, debts, etc. are transferred to the new holding. In the process of consolidation the interests of the tenants are sought to be so safeguarded that no person is deprived of his land or of his tenancy. The cost of consolidation is entirely borne by the Government. No charge or fee is levied on the holders affected by the scheme.

Progress of consolidation Scheme.

In the initial stages the progress of the work was slow, as numerous legal and practical difficulties were encountered and had to be solved. The success of the scheme depended upon the extent of co-operation extended by the people which was much less on account of their prejudices and reluctance to exchange their ancestral lands. Incorrect entries in the Record of Rights was also a factor responsible for impeding the progress of the scheme. The work of drafting or devising such a scheme as will be in conformity with the various provisions and objectives of the Act and as will be agreeable to all the cultivators concerned is really a stupendous task. However, it is a welcome feature that with the passage of time and with the actual implementation of some of the schemes, the work of consolidation is registering a satisfactory progress. The cultivators are gradually taking more interest in the progress of the scheme in as much as they seem to have realised its benefits. The work of consolidation was in progress, in June 1960, in Koregaon, Satara, Wai and Karad talukas and in Khandala peta. It covered 177 villages. However, one confirmed scheme was pending an execution. The overall picture of the consolidation work carried out in the district till the end of July 1960, is outlined in the following figures: —

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