Noting that majority of the country's farmers are small-time peasants, the government today said that the average area under farming has come down to 1.32 hectares in 2000-01."Only about 18% of the 120 million operational holdings (land under farming) are above 2 hectare," says the Mid-year Review 2007-08 tabled in the Parliament by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.Admitting that the minimum support price-based incentive has its own limitations, the review said most of these small farmers may be net purchasers of foodgrain.This piece of farm statistics could be a cause for worry to the centre as it has been stressing on 4% growth in agriculture to achieve double-digit GDP growth.The minimum support prices (MSPs) as announced by the government from time to time has altered the crop pattern. For example, area under wheat and gram have increased in 2006-07 in tune with the hike in MSPs. The MSP for wheat has gone up to Rs 1,000 per quintal for 2007-08 from Rs 750 per quintal in 2006-07 luring farmers to go for wheat sowing at the expense of other crops.The review also said that while prices have been the most important factor determining the area under a particular crop, weather, too, plays an important role. "The combined impact of weather and acreage response may lead to occurrence of year of plenty and severe scarcity," the review said adding that "identification of a durable pan-India solution is an imperative."
