Land Resources and Agriculture Summary
Land Use: Land is used for various purposes like buildings, roads,
parks, farming, and grazing. It’s a resource for production, residence,
and recreation.
Land Use Categories:
1. Forests: Government-designated areas for forest growth; doesn't
always reflect actual forest cover.
2. Barren and Wastelands: Includes areas like deserts and ravines, not
suitable for cultivation.
3. Non-agricultural Uses: Land for settlements, infrastructure, and
industries.
4. Permanent Pastures/Grazing Lands: Often owned by villages or the
government, used for grazing.
5. Miscellaneous Tree Crops/Groves: Orchards and fruit trees, mostly
privately owned.
6. Culturable Wasteland: Land left fallow for over five years, can be
reclaimed for cultivation.
7. Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for less than one year, allowing
it to regain fertility.
8. Fallow Other Than Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for 1-5
years, can be revived.
9. Net Area Sown: Land used for crop cultivation, from sowing to
harvesting.
Land-Use Changes in India Summary
Economic Influences on Land-Use:
1. Growth in Economy: As the economy grows (due to population,
income, and technology), land pressure increases, leading to the
use of marginal lands.
2. Economic Composition Change: The shift from agriculture
(primary sector) to industries and services (secondary and
tertiary sectors) causes agricultural land to be used for non-
agricultural purposes, especially around urban areas.
3. Pressure on Agricultural Land: Despite a reduction in
agriculture’s GDP share, the demand for agricultural land
continues due to population growth.
Land-Use Changes (1950–2014):
Increases in Land Use:
1. Non-agricultural Uses: Largest increase due to industrial and
urban growth, and infrastructure expansion.
2. Forests: Increase in demarcated forest areas.
3. Current Fallow: Fluctuating due to rainfall and cropping cycles.
4. Net Area Sown: Increase due to culturable wasteland
reclamation.
Declines in Land Use:
, 1. Barren and Wasteland: Reduced due to agricultural and non-
agricultural pressure.
2. Culturable Wasteland: Decline from increased land use.
3. Tree Crops and Groves: Reduced due to agricultural
expansion.
4. Fallow Lands: Decreased as agricultural land use increased.
Common Property Resources (CPRs) Summary
Definition: CPRs are natural resources owned by the state for community use. These
include community forests, pasture lands, village water bodies, etc.
Uses: They provide essential resources like fodder, fuel, and minor forest products (e.g.,
fruits, nuts, medicinal plants). CPRs are vital for rural livelihoods, especially for landless,
marginal farmers, and weaker sections of society.
Significance:
1. For Livelihood: Crucial for those with limited access to private
land, especially for income from livestock.
2. For Women: Women primarily collect fodder and fuel, often
from degraded CPRs, consuming significant time and effort.
Ownership and Rights: The community has access to CPRs, with collective rights and
responsibilities, but no individual ownership.
Agricultural Land Use in India Summary
Land’s Importance in Agriculture:
1. Direct Dependence: Agriculture is a land-based activity,
making land crucial to output. Lack of land access is directly
linked to rural poverty.
2. Quality of Land: The quality of land impacts agricultural
productivity more significantly than in other sectors.
3. Social Value: In rural areas, land ownership is not just
productive but also offers social status, security, and access to
credit.
Total Stock of Agricultural Land:
o Cultivable Land Estimation: This includes net sown area,
fallow lands, and culturable wasteland.
o Over time, cultivable land has declined as a percentage of total
reporting area, with cultivated land seeing a greater decrease
than culturable wasteland.
Need for Land-Saving Technologies:
1. Increasing Yield: Technologies can either increase crop yield
per unit of land or increase total output by improving land-use
intensity.
2. High Cropping Intensity: In a land-scarce, labour-abundant
country like India, high cropping intensity boosts output and
reduces rural unemployment.
Cropping Intensity (CI): It’s calculated as:
Land Use: Land is used for various purposes like buildings, roads,
parks, farming, and grazing. It’s a resource for production, residence,
and recreation.
Land Use Categories:
1. Forests: Government-designated areas for forest growth; doesn't
always reflect actual forest cover.
2. Barren and Wastelands: Includes areas like deserts and ravines, not
suitable for cultivation.
3. Non-agricultural Uses: Land for settlements, infrastructure, and
industries.
4. Permanent Pastures/Grazing Lands: Often owned by villages or the
government, used for grazing.
5. Miscellaneous Tree Crops/Groves: Orchards and fruit trees, mostly
privately owned.
6. Culturable Wasteland: Land left fallow for over five years, can be
reclaimed for cultivation.
7. Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for less than one year, allowing
it to regain fertility.
8. Fallow Other Than Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for 1-5
years, can be revived.
9. Net Area Sown: Land used for crop cultivation, from sowing to
harvesting.
Land-Use Changes in India Summary
Economic Influences on Land-Use:
1. Growth in Economy: As the economy grows (due to population,
income, and technology), land pressure increases, leading to the
use of marginal lands.
2. Economic Composition Change: The shift from agriculture
(primary sector) to industries and services (secondary and
tertiary sectors) causes agricultural land to be used for non-
agricultural purposes, especially around urban areas.
3. Pressure on Agricultural Land: Despite a reduction in
agriculture’s GDP share, the demand for agricultural land
continues due to population growth.
Land-Use Changes (1950–2014):
Increases in Land Use:
1. Non-agricultural Uses: Largest increase due to industrial and
urban growth, and infrastructure expansion.
2. Forests: Increase in demarcated forest areas.
3. Current Fallow: Fluctuating due to rainfall and cropping cycles.
4. Net Area Sown: Increase due to culturable wasteland
reclamation.
Declines in Land Use:
, 1. Barren and Wasteland: Reduced due to agricultural and non-
agricultural pressure.
2. Culturable Wasteland: Decline from increased land use.
3. Tree Crops and Groves: Reduced due to agricultural
expansion.
4. Fallow Lands: Decreased as agricultural land use increased.
Common Property Resources (CPRs) Summary
Definition: CPRs are natural resources owned by the state for community use. These
include community forests, pasture lands, village water bodies, etc.
Uses: They provide essential resources like fodder, fuel, and minor forest products (e.g.,
fruits, nuts, medicinal plants). CPRs are vital for rural livelihoods, especially for landless,
marginal farmers, and weaker sections of society.
Significance:
1. For Livelihood: Crucial for those with limited access to private
land, especially for income from livestock.
2. For Women: Women primarily collect fodder and fuel, often
from degraded CPRs, consuming significant time and effort.
Ownership and Rights: The community has access to CPRs, with collective rights and
responsibilities, but no individual ownership.
Agricultural Land Use in India Summary
Land’s Importance in Agriculture:
1. Direct Dependence: Agriculture is a land-based activity,
making land crucial to output. Lack of land access is directly
linked to rural poverty.
2. Quality of Land: The quality of land impacts agricultural
productivity more significantly than in other sectors.
3. Social Value: In rural areas, land ownership is not just
productive but also offers social status, security, and access to
credit.
Total Stock of Agricultural Land:
o Cultivable Land Estimation: This includes net sown area,
fallow lands, and culturable wasteland.
o Over time, cultivable land has declined as a percentage of total
reporting area, with cultivated land seeing a greater decrease
than culturable wasteland.
Need for Land-Saving Technologies:
1. Increasing Yield: Technologies can either increase crop yield
per unit of land or increase total output by improving land-use
intensity.
2. High Cropping Intensity: In a land-scarce, labour-abundant
country like India, high cropping intensity boosts output and
reduces rural unemployment.
Cropping Intensity (CI): It’s calculated as:
