(a) the total number of farmers in the country and the number out of them having less than 2
acres of cultivable land, State-wise, particularly in Karnataka;
(b) whether the Union Government proposes to provide electricity, irrigation facilities,
manure and seeds free of cost to these poor farmers;
(c) if so, the details of the same, State-wise, particularly in Karnataka;
(d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) by when the final decision in this regard is likely to be taken?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a): According to the Agricultural Census, 1995-96, the total number of farmers (operational
holdings) in the country was 115.58 million. The number of farmers with operational holdings
of less than one hectare of land (2.471 acres) in Karnataka was 2.61 million. State-wise figures
on this are annexed.
(b)to(e): Farmers in different States derive benefit of input subsidy under various schemes.
Studies have shown that small and marginal farmers also derive benefits from farm subsidy.
According to one study, the combined share of marginal and small farmers in total subsidy in
Indian agriculture in 1999-2000 was 36%, which is the same as their share in total operated land
area. The study also found that the per hectare subsidy was the lowest in large farms, implying
that there was no discrimination between farmers according to size classes in regard to
agriculture subsidy.
ANNEXURE
Statewise Number of holdings, below 1.00 ha. (marginal holders as per Agricultural Census 1995-96)
( in `000)
S.No. States/UTs Marginal
1. Andhra Pradesh 6300
2. Arunachal Pradesh 21
3. Assam 1669
4. Bihar 11344
5. Goa 57 6. Gujarat 1034
7 Haryana 815
8. Himachal Pradesh 556
9. Jammu & Kashmir 1041 10. Karnataka 2610 11. Kerala 5918 12. Madhya Pradesh 3878 13. Maharashtra 4266 14. Manipur 69 15. Meghalaya 72 16. Mizoram 28 17. Nagaland 9 18. Orissa 2145 19. Punjab 204 20. Rajasthan 1611 21. Sikkim 24 22. Tamil Nadu 5951 23. Tripura 247 24. Uttar Pradesh 16237 25. West Bengal 5003 26. A & N Islands 2 27. Chandigarh 1 28. D & N Haveli 7 29. Daman & Diu 3 30. Delhi 21 31. Lakshadweep 9 32 Pondicherry 26
ALL INDIA 71179