HYDERABAD: The agricultural statistics of Telangana which was also released by Finance Minister Eatala Rajender on Friday showed that average land holding in Telangana in 2010-11 was 1.12 hectares (2.8 acres) against the all India average of 1.16 hectares.
Increase in population has put pressure on land, leading to fragmentation of holdings. The share of small and marginal land holdings in total holdings was 86 per cent while their share in total area was only 55 per cent in 2010-11. More than 60 per cent of holdings were marginal in Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Khammam and Warangal districts.
As compared with national picture, the land holding pattern in Telangana was more evenly distributed. The average size of holdings decreased from 1.30 hectares in 2005-06 to 1.12 hectares in 2010-11. The report also said that the cropping pattern from 1980s shifted to non-food crops in Telangana. Research studies on State’s cropping pattern revealed that more than one-third area was under food crops comprising cereals, coarse cereals and pulses during 1980s.
Of the total cropped area of 48.01 lakh hectares in 2001-02, about 71 per cent was under food crops and 29 per cent under non-food. However, the share of food crops came down to 53 per cent and that of non-food to 47 per cent in 2015-16. Even in absolute terms, area under food crops came down from 33.99 lakh hectares in 2001-02 to 26.18 lakh hectares in 2015-16.
