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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 821
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026
DIVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND
821. SMT. RENUKA CHOWDHURY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the extent of land-use change involving agricultural land during the five years,
including diversion for industrial, urban, infrastructure or other non-farm purposes, State/UT-
wise;
(b) whether Government has undertaken any assessment of the drivers behind such land-
use changes, including urbanisation, industrial expansion, infrastructure projects or real estate
development;
(c) whether the impact of reduction in cultivable land on food production, farm incomes
and rural employment has been evaluated, if so, the findings thereof; and
(d) the area of degraded, fallow or wasteland that has been reclaimed, restored or brought
under cultivation during the same period, along with the schemes under which such work was
undertaken?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): 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 urbanization, industrial projects, national highways, and other
infrastructure developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not
maintain State/UT-wise data centrally on diversion of agricultural land for various purposes like
urbanisation, industrial expansion, infrastructure projects or real estate development etc., and on
area of degraded, fallow or wasteland that has been reclaimed, restored or brought under cultivation
during the same period.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 has not undertaken any assessment
to analyse the drivers of agricultural land-use change, including urbanisation, industrial
expansion and infrastructure development, or to evaluate the impact of reduction in cultivable
land on food production, farm incomes and rural employment. However, Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing several schemes with the objective of increasing
food grains production through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Driven by
government initiatives and technological advancements, 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).
Further, 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.
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