Report of the Expert Group on Agricultural Indebtedness

<strong>Expert</strong> <strong>Group</strong> on Agricultural IndebtednessTable 1.4Changes in <strong>the</strong> Size Distribution <strong>of</strong> Operational Holdings and Operated Area :1960-61 to 2002 -03Category <strong>of</strong> Holdings Percentage <strong>of</strong> Operational Holdings Percentage <strong>of</strong> Operated Area1960-61 1970-71 1981-82 1991-92 2003 1960-61 1970-71 1981-82 1991-92 2003(17 th ) (26 th ) (37 th ) (48 th ) (59 th ) (17 th ) (26 th ) (37 th ) (48 th ) (59 th )Marginal 39.1 45.8 56.0 62.8 71.0 6.9 9.2 11.5 15.6 22.6Small 22.6 22.4 19.3 17.8 16.6 12.3 14.8 16.6 18.7 20.9Semi-Medium 19.8 17.7 14.2 12.0 9.2 20.7 22.6 23.6 24.1 22.5Medium 14.0 11.1 8.6 6.1 4.3 31.2 30.5 30.1 26.4 22.2Large 4.5 3.1 1.9 1.3 0.8 29.0 23.0 18.2 15.2 11.8All Sizes 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0Source : NSSO, Some Aspects <strong>of</strong> Operational Land Holdings in India, Various Rounds.Increasing Stress on Irrigation Resources1.13 Ano<strong>the</strong>r serious problem is <strong>the</strong> unequal availability <strong>of</strong> irrigation across <strong>the</strong> country andincreasing stress on available irrigation resources. It is well known that India is not in an enviableposition in <strong>the</strong> matter <strong>of</strong> irrigation resources. With 16 per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world’s population, <strong>the</strong>country is endowed with only four per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total available fresh water. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, within <strong>the</strong>country <strong>the</strong> regional distribution <strong>of</strong> available water resources, including rainfall, is highly uneven.Rainfed areas account for about 60 per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total 142 million hectares <strong>of</strong> net sown areain <strong>the</strong> country. The ultimate irrigation potential <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> country has been assessed at 140 millionhectares (Ninth Five Year Plan). This includes 59 million hectares from major and mediumirrigation, and 81 million hectares from minor irrigation. The latter includes 17 million hectaresfrom surface water minor irrigation schemes and 64 million hectares from groundwater resources.1.14 The exploitable potential is 21.4 million hectares, that is, about 37 per cent <strong>of</strong> irrigationpotential from major and medium irrigation projects. Of this, 13.4 million hectares are locked upin a large number <strong>of</strong> projects in <strong>the</strong> pipeline. Despite <strong>the</strong> Accelerated Irrigation BenefitProgramme (AIBP) nothing much seems to have been achieved. Ano<strong>the</strong>r serious problem relatesto underutilisation <strong>of</strong> irrigation potential created because <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> field channels and o<strong>the</strong>r minorinvestments. Out <strong>of</strong> a potential <strong>of</strong> 94 million hectares created till <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ninth plan, only80 million hectares have been utilised. There is a serious challenge with regard to availability <strong>of</strong>adequate water for irrigation which is fur<strong>the</strong>r accentuated because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> growing demand fordrinking water and o<strong>the</strong>r needs associated with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. This callsfor action for efficient water resource management.17