Question

Why holdings in India are small and fragmented?

Answer 1

• Holdings in India are small and fragmented primarily because of the laws of inheritance, under which the land of a deceased farmer is divided equally among his heirs.
• This system of subdivision has been followed for generations, and with each succession, the size of individual plots becomes smaller and smaller.
• As a result, a farmer may own several tiny and scattered plots instead of one compact piece of land.
• The situation is made worse by the high population density in rural areas, where more people depend on limited agricultural land for their livelihood.
• In states with heavy population pressure, the fragmentation process has accelerated, leaving most holdings uneconomical to cultivate.
• The scattered nature of these plots increases wastage of land in the form of boundaries and pathways, makes irrigation and management difficult, and prevents the use of modern machinery, ultimately affecting agricultural productivity and profitability.