I will provide a sample answer for Rajasthan (as many IGNOU students use it as a reference). If your state is different, let me know and I will customize the answer accordingly.
Land Use Pattern and Land Holding Distribution of Rajasthan
1. Land Use Pattern in Rajasthan
Land use pattern refers to how the total geographical area of a region is utilized for various purposes such as agriculture, forest, pasture, non-agricultural use, barren land, etc.
As per Agricultural Census 2021 and State Government Data, Rajasthan’s land use pattern is as follows (approximate figures):
| Category | Area (in lakh hectares) | Percentage of Total Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| Total Geographical Area | 342.2 | 100% |
| Forest Area | 31.5 | 9.2% |
| Land under Non-Agricultural Use | 26.4 | 7.7% |
| Barren and Unculturable Land | 42.9 | 12.5% |
| Permanent Pastures and Grazing Land | 16.0 | 4.7% |
| Land under Misc. Tree Crops and Groves | 0.5 | 0.1% |
| Culturable Waste Land | 47.8 | 14.0% |
| Fallow Land (Current and Other Fallow) | 47.4 | 13.9% |
| Net Area Sown | 129.2 | 37.8% |
| Area Sown More Than Once | 35.0 | – |
| Gross Cropped Area | 164.2 | – |
Key Observations:
- Rajasthan has a large share of barren and culturable waste land due to arid and semi-arid climate.
- Net sown area is significant, but productivity is limited due to water scarcity and low rainfall.
- Irrigated area is mainly found in eastern Rajasthan through canals and tube wells.
2. Land Holding Distribution in Rajasthan
Land holdings refer to the size and number of operational agricultural land holdings in the region. Rajasthan, being a state with large land area but scattered population, shows the following trends:
| Size of Land Holding | Definition | % of Total Holdings | % of Operated Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marginal Farmers | Below 1 hectare | 45.6% | 8.3% |
| Small Farmers | 1 to 2 hectares | 20.1% | 12.6% |
| Semi-Medium Farmers | 2 to 4 hectares | 17.5% | 21.9% |
| Medium Farmers | 4 to 10 hectares | 13.3% | 31.7% |
| Large Farmers | Above 10 hectares | 3.5% | 25.5% |
Key Observations:
- Marginal and small farmers together make up around 65% of total holdings, but operate only 20–21% of agricultural land.
- Medium and large farmers, though fewer in number, hold the majority of the land.
- This indicates unequal land distribution, leading to low income and vulnerability for marginal farmers.
- Fragmentation of land holdings due to inheritance laws has led to decreasing average land size.
Conclusion
Rajasthan’s land use pattern reflects the challenges of arid climate, limited irrigation, and a large share of wasteland. Despite a significant net sown area, low rainfall and poor soil quality restrict productivity. Land holding distribution shows concentration of land among larger farmers, with a high dependency on agriculture among small and marginal farmers.
To improve the scenario, the government is promoting:
- Watershed development
- Drip and sprinkler irrigation
- Soil health card scheme
- Consolidation of land holdings