(a) whether the agricultural land in the country is shrinking constantly;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the said situation is likely to have an impact on the availability of
agricultural produce and price stability in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 13 DUE FOR REPLY ON 22ND FEBRUARY,
2011.
(a) to (e): On account of shift in area for non-agricultural purposes, the
agricultural/cultivable land in the country has marginally declined during the last
five years. As compared to 183.19 million hectares during 2003-04, the agricultural
land in the country has come down to 182.39 million hectares during 2008-09 i.e. a
decline of 0.80 million hectares. However, as a result of various initiatives taken by
the Government to enhance production and productivity in the agriculture sector, the
production of foodgrains has increased considerably and marginal decline in the
agricultural/cultivable land is not likely to have any adverse impact on the
availability of agricultural produce and price stability in the country.
For increasing productivity and production of foodgrains in the country,
various Crop Development Schemes and Programmes, namely; National Food
Security Mission (NFSM), Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize
(ISOPOM), Integrated Cereals Development Programme for Rice/Wheat/Coarse
Cereals under Macro Management of Agriculture and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
(RKVY) are being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture through State
Governments. In addition to the above schemes, during the current year, i.e. 2010-
11, two new programmes for bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India and
Integrated Development of 60,000 Pulses and Oilseeds Villages in rainfed areas have
been initiated under RKVY. National Food Secutiry Mission has been strengthened
from 1.4.2010 with the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two
new potential States namely; Assam and Jharkhand for pulses production. A new
programme `Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P)` in the form of block
demonstrations has also been started to cover 1000 units of 1000 hectares each of
five pulses crops in 16 pulse growing States of the country. Further, land
development and soil health/soil fertility have also been ensured through
implementation of centrally sponsored schemes such as Reclamation and
Development of Alkali & Acid Soil and the National Project on Management of Soil
Health & Fertility etc.