Parliament Question: Declining size of agricultural landholdings

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3856 ANSWERED ON 27/03/2026 DECLINING SIZE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDHOLDINGS 3856 Shri S Niranjan Reddy:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of the fact that the average size of operational landholdings in the country has declined, with an increase in the number of marginal and small farmers over the years;

(b) whether fragmented landholdings affect agricultural productivity and adoption of modern technology; and

(c) the steps taken by Government to address the challenges arising from shrinking landholdings, including promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): As per Agriculture Census 2015-16, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the average size of operational holdings is 1.08 hectares, against 1.15 hectares in 2010-11. However, the production of total food grains at the all-India level has increased from 265.0 Million Tonnes in 2013–14 to 357.7 Million Tonnes in 2024–25. Similarly, the production of total horticulture crops at the all-India level has increased from 277.4 Million Tonnes in 2013–14 to 369.1 Million Tonnes in 2024–25 (Third advance estimates).

To ensure productive use of land, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has implemented several initiatives to promote crop diversification, increase cropping intensity and enhance farmers income.

Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the Crop Diversification Programme, States are supported to adopt region-specific high-value crops, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops. Schemes such as Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm, National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds, Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for organic and sustainable farming, Rainfed Area Development (RAD) to further encourage farmers to adopt climate-resilient, high- value and diversified crops.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducts research programme to develop location specific varieties for enhancing the production, productivity of farm holdings and initiated 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. Further, to address the impacts of climate change, ICAR has released 2,900 crop varieties during 2014–2024, out of which 2,661 are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.

Government of India has been implementing the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) since 2020 to organize farmers including small & marginal farmers, into collectives and enable them to enhance their bargaining power, leverage economies of scale, reduce cost of production and enhance farmers’ incomes through aggregation of their agricultural produce.

Under the scheme, financial assistance up to Rs. 18.00 lakh per FPO is provided for a period of three years. In addition, matching equity grant up to Rs. 2,000 per farmer member subject to a limit of Rs.

15.00 lakh per FPO and credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 crore of project loan per FPO is provided to ensure institutional credit accessibility. Further, Rs. 25 lakh is provided to Cluster Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) for handholding support to each FPO for a period of five years. Presently 10,000 FPOs have been registered under the said scheme. These initiatives have empowered millions of small & marginal farmers to overcome the limitations of shrinking landholdings by enabling collective farming, input procurement, value addition and better market access.

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