**Executive Summary**
This document addresses an unstarred question (No. 2713) raised in Lok Sabha concerning the conversion of agricultural land into commercial land, to be answered on December 16, 2025. It outlines the central government's stance on land acquisition, compensation for farmers, and measures to ensure food security amidst the conversion of agricultural land. The document references the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Land Acquisition and Agriculture:**
* Land and agriculture are State subjects according to the Constitution.
* Both Central and State Governments acquire land for industrial projects and infrastructure development.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not maintain central data on acquired agricultural land.
* **RFCTLARR Act, 2013:**
* The Act came into force on 01.01.2014 and allows land acquisition for public purposes.
* Section 10 restricts the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated land, unless there is no alternative.
* In exceptional cases, the act mandates equivalent land development or investment in agriculture to offset land acquisition.
* The Act discourages agricultural land conversion unless absolutely necessary.
* Compensatory mechanisms, including monetary compensation, rehabilitation, resettlement benefits, and land-for-land compensation, are provided.
* **State Government Responsibilities:**
* State Governments are responsible for increasing cultivation area and preventing agricultural land diversion.
* The RFCTLARR Act prioritizes safeguarding food security, minimizing multi-cropped irrigated land acquisition, and defining acquisition limits.
* **Government Initiatives for Food Security:**
* The Central Government supports States through policies and budgetary assistance.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements schemes to enhance food grain production through area expansion and productivity.
* Cropping intensity increased from 142.5% in 2013-14 to 156.8% in 2023-24.
* Food grain production rose from 265.05 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25.
* Horticulture production increased from 277.35 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 369.05 million tonnes in 2024-25.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:**
* Farmers are impacted by the loss of agricultural land to industrial and infrastructural projects.
* The Act provides for monetary and other compensatory mechanisms, rehabilitation, and resettlement benefits to mitigate the impact of land acquisition on farmers.
* **Action Required:**
* Farmers need to be aware of their rights under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.
* Farmers need to engage with the government regarding compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:**
* State Governments are primarily responsible for land and agriculture.
* They are tasked with increasing cultivation area and preventing agricultural land diversion.
* **Action Required:**
* State governments must implement measures to increase area under cultivation and minimize agricultural land conversion.
* State governments must ensure compliance with the RFCTLARR Act, 2013.
**Central Government (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for supporting State Governments and implementing policies to ensure food security.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue providing support to State Governments.
* Continue implementing initiatives to increase food grain production.
* The department should encourage adoption of enhanced agricultural practices, increase cropping area and intensity.
Key Entities Referenced
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013: A central act that regulates land acquisition and provides for compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement of affected persons in India.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, allocating legislative powers over land to the states (Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule).
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India, explicitly mentioned as a focus area in the query about loss of agricultural land.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2713
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16th DECEMBER, 2025
CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND INTO COMMERCIAL LAND
2713. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of loss of agricultural land due to land acquisition for infrastructure and
industrial projects across the various States of the country during the last five years,
State-wise and particularly in Dadra and Nagar Haveli;
(b) the criteria for compensating farmers against the loss of agricultural land;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the impact of conversion of agricultural land
into commercial land on long term food security in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Land and agriculture are the state subjects, as per Entry No. 18 of List II (State
List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Both the Central and State
Governments undertake land acquisition for industrial projects and infrastructure
development. As per the latest report on ‘Land Use Statistics-at a Glance 2023-24’, the
Gross Cropped Area has expanded significantly, rising from 201.3 million hectares in
2013-14 to 217.8 million hectares in 2023-24. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare does not centrally maintain data on agricultural land acquired for various
purposes.
The Central Government has enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013,
which came into force on 01.01.2014. Under this act, land can be acquired for public
purposes. Section 10 of the Act explicitly restricts the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated
land, unless in exceptional cases where no alternative land is available. In such cases,
an equivalent area of culturable wasteland shall be developed for agricultural purposes
or an amount equivalent to the value of the land acquired shall be deposited with the
appropriate Government for investment in agriculture for enhancing food-security. The
RFCTLARR Act, 2013, strongly discourages such conversions unless absolutely
necessary. Wherever agricultural land is acquired, compensatory mechanisms, including
monetary compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, and in some cases,
land for land compensation, are provided to mitigate the impact on farmers.(c) & (d) : Land being a State subject, it is primarily the responsibility of the State
Governments to take appropriate measures to increase the area under cultivation and
prevent the diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. The RFCTLARR
Act, 2013, has special provision to safeguard the food security of the country which inter-
alia provides to minimize the acquisition of multi-cropped irrigated land and to define the
limits for acquisition of agricultural land in aggregate for all projects in a district or State.
In addition, the Government of India supports States through policy initiatives and
budgetary assistance. To ensure food security of the country, Department of Agriculture
& Farmers Welfare is implementing several schemes with the objective of increasing food
grains production through area expansion and productivity enhancement. These
government initiatives and technological advancements have contributed to a continuous
rise in cropping intensity. Cropping intensity increased from 142.5% in 2013-14 to 156.8%
in 2023-24, reflecting a positive shift toward multiple cropping practices, highlighting
farmers’ enhanced ability to cultivate the same land more than once annually. The food
grain production has risen significantly, from 265.05 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 357.73
million tonnes in 2024-25. Horticulture production has also increased from 277.35 million
tonnes in 2013-14 to 369.05 million tonnes in 2024-25 (third advanced estimates).
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