Some facts about Land Use in India India has about (i) 16.7% of world s population (ii) 15% of livestock population (iii) 1.5% of forest and pasture land on 2% of World s geographical area. 1
Availability of Land Increasing pressure on land. Per capita availability of land declined from 0.89 hectares in 1951 to 0.27 hectares in 2007-08. Per capita availability of agricultural land declined from 0.48 hectares in 1951 to 0.16 hectares in 1991. Increase in population of rural India has grown by 1.49 times during the past 5 decades, urban population has grown by 3.58 times during the same period. 2
Name of the Country Area (Sq Km) Population (in million) %age of population living in rural area %age cultivated land Australia 76,86,850 20.60 34 6.19 93.81 China 95,96,960 1322.04 72 16.13 83.87 Germany 3,57,021 82.21 12 33.73 66.27 France 5,47,030 63.60 24 35.49 64.51 India 32,87,240 1148.00 72 51.63 48.37 Russia 170,75,200 142.01 27 7.28 92.72 USA 96,29,091 310.23 20 18.22 81.78 UK 2,44,820 60.59 23.43 76.57 %age other land 3
Definition of Country Planning A scientific, aesthetic and orderly disposition of land resources, facilities and service with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of rural communities. An integrated land use policy for the countryside which inter-alia includes agriculture, industry, commerce forests, mining, housing infrastructure and urban area settlements is required, to settle claims/counter-claims of these sectors. 4
Main objectives of the Workshop To review the existing policies, if any, to support the best possible use of the land and the sustainable management of land resources for the countryside. To facilitate a dialogue among the experts and stakeholders on the issue of land use conflicts between industry and agricultural land uses with an overall objective of developing a national-level strategy/ framework for minimization of such conflicts. To analyze the changes in land use pattern and its linkage with agricultural growth and diversification. To explore the possible ways to ensure the active involvement and participation of the all important stakeholders, particularly communities and people at the local level, in decisions on land use and management. 5
Main objectives of the Workshop contd. To arrive at the mechanism to improve and strengthen planning, management and evaluation systems for land and land resources for the countryside. To explore the use of innovative technologies in planning and management of land resources. To deliberate and finalize about a dedicated team/institutional set-up at the district/ state/national-level for this purpose. 6
Projected Demand and supply of foodgrains in India in the year 2020 (Million Tonnes) 1. Projected Food Demand in 2020 307 2. Average Food Production in Triennium Ending 2002 205 3. Gap to be met 102 4. Maximum Possible Contribution of Irrigated Agriculture of which 64 From Irrigated Area Expansion 38 From Increases in Productivity of Irrigated Agriculture 26 5. Minimum Balance required from the Rainfed Agriculture 38 6. Share of Rainfed Agriculture 37% 7
State/Region-level Land Use Policies Major land use zones which could be identified for planning: a) Control/development/regulated zones (Municipal Areas) b) Highway corridor zone c) Natural conservation zones/forest Areas/Green Buffers /Water Bodies d) Agricultural zones e) Industrial zones - Polluting/Non-polluting, SEZs, Industrial Parks/Estates. 8
Food Security As an immediate step, State Governments should declare Class-A, Category-I, Agricultural Land, as a reserved Agricultural Zone, which cannot be put any other use but for agriculture. The Land Use Policy may be re-visited for these areas only after about 10 years. If need be, regulation, on the lines of declaring reserved forest areas, may be adopted for Reserved Agricultural Zones. No polluting industry should be allowed to be developed in the vicinity of the Reserved Agricultural Zone. This area should be approximately 40 to 45% of the net area sown. 9