**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2594, concerning the decline in fertile land in India, to be answered on December 16th, 2025. It provides information on the government's awareness of the issue and the actions taken to address it. The document outlines measures to curtail the use of fertile land and enhance food security.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Land Use Statistics:**
* Gross Cropped Area has increased from 201.3 million hectares in 2013-14 to 217.8 million hectares in 2023-24.
* Net Area Sown has remained relatively stable at 138.99 million hectares in 2023-24.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not centrally maintain data on agricultural land acquired for various purposes.
* **Government Regulations and Initiatives:**
* Land and agriculture are state subjects. Central and State Governments undertake land acquisition for industrial projects and infrastructure development.
* The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, is in force since January 1, 2014, and allows land acquisition for public purposes, restricting the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated land.
* If multi-crop irrigated land is acquired, an equivalent area of culturable wasteland must be developed for agricultural purposes or an equivalent amount must be deposited to enhance food security.
* The Department of Land Resources is implementing the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) focusing on the development of rainfed/degraded lands, approved on December 15th, 2021.
* **Technological Measures:**
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technological measures to increase the area under cultivation, including location-specific bio-engineering to check soil erosion, gypsum technology, agronomic measures, and soil and water conservation measures.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact**: Farmers may be affected by land acquisition for industrial and infrastructure development, as well as initiatives to develop degraded lands.
* **Action Required**: Farmers may need to participate in compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement programs if their land is acquired. They can also adopt new cultivation methods.
**State Governments**
* **Impact**: State Governments are responsible for land and agriculture.
* **Action Required**: State Governments undertake land acquisition for industrial projects and infrastructure development, while adhering to regulations like the RFCTLARR Act.
**Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact**: The department oversees agricultural development but does not maintain data on agricultural land acquisition.
* **Action Required**: The department should support land reclamation and new farming methods.
**Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)**
* **Impact**: ICAR’s technological measures affect agricultural practices.
* **Action Required**: ICAR needs to continue developing and promoting effective technologies to improve land use and agricultural productivity.
Key Entities Referenced
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013: A central act concerning land acquisition for public purposes, emphasizing fair compensation and rehabilitation.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY): A scheme focusing on watershed development and improving water management in rainfed/degraded lands.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for matters related to agriculture and farmers' welfare in India.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, where land and agriculture are listed as state subjects.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Organization that develops technological measures to increase area under cultivation and improve soil health.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2594
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16th DECEMBER, 2025
DECLINE IN FERTILE LAND
2594. DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the fact that in the recent past, fertile
land is being decreasing due to Indiscriminate acquisition of farm land for various
purposes/uses for urbanization, industrialization & Infrastructure Development,
particularly for expansion of national highways across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(c) whether the Union Government will take immediate necessary action to curtail the
use of fertile land for various infrastructural activities in future so as to protect our
agriculture and farmers which is back bone of our economy and to prevent food
shortage/famine in future;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): 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 and the Net Area Sown has remained
relatively stable, standing at 138.99 million hectares in 2023-24. The Department of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not centrally maintain data on agricultural land
acquired for various purposes.(c) to (e) : 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. However, 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 Act also, 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.
Department of Land Resources is implementing Watershed Development
Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) which primarily
focuses on development rainfed/ degraded lands. The activities undertaken in the
scheme, inter alia, include ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture
conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, livelihoods for
asset-less persons etc. The measures taken under WDC-PMKSY supplements the effort of
the Government to increase the area under cultivation. This scheme has been approved by
the Government on 15th December, 2021.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed several technological
measures to increase the area under cultivation. This includes location specific bio-
engineering to check soil erosion due to run-off of rainwater, sand dune stabilization and
shelter belt technology to check wind erosion and reclamation technology for problem soils
in the country. ICAR has also developed the gypsum technology package, consisting of
land levelling, bunding, flushing, removal of excess water, good quality irrigation water,
application of amendments, selection of crops and efficient nutrient management. ICAR
also recommends several agronomic measures to improve the degraded soils and bringing
them under crop cultivation, soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management
through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (manner, biofertilizers etc.)
of plant nutrient and location specific soil & water conservation measures for preventing
deterioration of soil health and fertility.
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