Challenges of land reforms in India – An expansive land management policy is overdue

Source: The post challenges India faces in managing its land has been created, based on the article “An expansive land management policy is overdue” published in “The Hindu” on 27th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – environment- conservation

News: The article discusses the challenges India faces in managing its land due to its growing population and varied land use. It suggests creating a multi-stakeholder platform to improve land management and calls for integrated approaches to address these issues effectively.

Background

Land degradation costs the world about $6 trillion in ecosystem services annually.

In 2019, the UN’s COP14 and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted the need for land management improvements.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on ‘Climate Change and Land’ (2019) suggested country-level stocktaking of land management practices.

A 2021 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report stressed the urgency of caring for land, soil, and water.

What is the challenges India faces in managing its land?

High Population Pressure: India has over 17% of the world’s population but only 2.4% of its land area, leading to intense competition for land use.

Land Degradation: Approximately 30% of India’s total geographical area is degraded, impacting agricultural productivity and environmental health.

Diverse Land Use: With 55% arable land and 22% forest cover, managing diverse land uses like agriculture, forestry, and urban development is a complex task.

Rapid Urbanization: Increasing urbanization demands more land for infrastructure, intensifying the strain on available land resources.

Sectoral Approach to Land Management: Different government departments follow their own land management practices, leading to a fragmented and inefficient system.

Private Land Ownership: Much of the cultural land is privately owned, complicating broader land-use planning and management.

What should be done?

Establish Multi-Stakeholder Platforms: Create platforms at district and sub-district levels to bring together farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders for collaborative land management.

Activate District Planning Committees: Utilize Article 243ZD (1) of the Constitution to activate district planning committees for comprehensive land management plans.

Implement a Landscape Approach: Adopt a landscape approach to assess land potential and make informed decisions about land allocation and use.

Focus on Climate-Smart Practices: Incorporate climate-smart strategies in land management to address climate change impacts and enhance agricultural production.

Institutional Support for Integrated Management: Seek systematic support for integrated landscape management, learning from global experiences such as the European Landscape Convention and the UK’s sustainable land management practices.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the effectiveness of existing land management practices in India and the potential impact of implementing multi-stakeholder platforms.