(a) whether the Government is aware that there is an adverse effect on the production of foodgrains due to acquisition/ diversion of fertile land in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the remedial measures taken so far by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the extent of success achieved as a result of the said measures?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. The total production of foodgrains in the country has increased from 244.49 million tonnes in 2010-11 to 264.38 million tonnes in 2013- 14 (3rd advance estimates).
(c) & (d): In order to check decline in the cultivable area in the country, under the National Policy for Farmers-2007 (NPF-2007), State Governments have been advised to earmark lands with low biological potential such as uncultivable land, land affected by salinity, acidity, etc., for non-agricultural development activities, including industrial and construction activities. National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007 (NRRP-2007) has recommended that as far as possible, projects may be set up on wasteland, degraded land or un-irrigated land. NRRP- 2007 has also recommended that acquisition of agricultural land for non- agricultural uses in projects may be kept to the minimum and avoided, to the extent possible, in respect of multi-cropped land and acquisition of irrigated land, if unavoidable, may be kept to the minimum.
As per latest Land Use Statistics (2011-12) compiled by Ministry of Agriculture, there has been no significant decline in agricultural land in the country which remained around 182 million hectares during 2009-10 to 2011-12.