Question : AGRICULTURAL LAND

(a) the details of agricultural land in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether there are reports of conversion/decline of agricultural land in the country during the recent past;

(c) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years, State-wise alongwith the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has any mechanism to regulate the conversion of agricultural land for commercial/other purposes keeping in view the food security of the country and compensation to be paid to the farmers;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the measures taken by the Government to reclaim the barren/ wasteland in the country to increase the agricultural land in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) to (c): As per available estimates (2008-09), total agricultural land is 182.385 million hectare across the country and has marginally decreased by 0.181 million hectare during last three years (2006-07 to 2008-09). State-wise details of agricultural land in each of last three years are annexed.

Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture does not maintain separate data on conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.

(d) &(e): As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, land falls under purview of State Governments and, therefore, it is for State Governments to bring in suitable Policy / Act / Legislation to prevent diversion of agricultural land for non- agricultural purposes. However, Government of India has formulated National Policy for Farmers, 2007 and National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 which envisage prevention in utilization of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes including providing compensation to affected farmers.

With a view to enhance agricultural productivity and sustaining foodgrain production across the country, Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture has intensified implementation of various programmes/schemes, namely, Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) etc.

(f): As per concept and definition, barren and un-culturable land includes area covered by mountains, desert etc. and cannot be brought under cultivation except at an exorbitant cost. As such, Government of India, do not promote any scheme for bringing such land under cultivation. However, with a view to prevent soil erosion and land degradation, Government of India is implementing various Watershed Development Programmes, namely; National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA), Soil Conservation in the Catchments of River Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR), Reclamation and Development of Alkali & Acid Soils (RADAS), Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas

(WDPSCA) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) across the country.