Mr. Debasis Nag, Director, National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fiber Technology,says-
The growing size of the urban-based population in India presents a challenge to establishing a national, comprehensive land reform policy. Most urban dwellers perceive land in a compartmentalized and detached way and are unable to identify with the problems of the small or marginal farmers or fathom the larger linkages of land use to the functioning of the macro economy. The urban middle-class market demand for cheaper products pushes farmers toward agricultural systems that have a low-unit cost of production. This is only possible if the yield per acre is increased through organic farming that reduces crop losses and, more recently, through genetically modified crops that claim to be more resistant to pests. All of these require access to and maintenance of capital for cash poor farmers. From an economic perspective, the question of land is linked to critical issues of agricultural productivity, agrarian relations, industrial uses, infrastructure development, employment opportunities, housing, and other related issues.
Each one of these aspects is crucial for enhancing national security by ensuring consistent economic growth, food security, goods for export, and so on, which reinforce the country’s economic strength, and therefore, its bargaining power in the international community.
Indian Agriculture is dominated by small holders. Average size of holding is decreasing with the division of holding under population pressure. To promote export oriented agriculture, farm size must be very large. Smaller size holdings cannot go for production of high value crops due to diseconomies of marketing small lot of surplus. Small and marginal holdings are not viable and removal of land ceiling would provide much needed impetus to growth and development. Continuation of ceiling on holding area and existing law on lease market inhibit fullest exploitation of technology and denies opportunity for growth to dynamic farmers. Hence, there should be upward relaxation in land ceiling laws which would allow individuals and companies to acquire and hold land more than the prescribed ceiling limit with permission from the state government.
National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fiber Technology,
(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
12, Regent Park,
Kolkata - 700040
West Bengal, India
Phone: 033-2471 1807 (Director), 033-2421 2115/16/17 (EPBX)
Mobile: 94333 89579
Email:
dnag_in@yahoo.com
Web:
http://www.nirjaft.res.in/
