Explain the need and type of land reforms implemented in the agricultural sector.
At the time of independence, the land tenure system was characterised by intermediaries called zamindars, jagirdars, etc. They collected rent from the actual tiller without contributing to improvements on the farm. This demotivated the actual tillers and resulted in low productivity. Due to this reason, there was an urgent need for land reform policy.
The agricultural sector in India adopted the following types of land-reform strategies:
(i) Abolition of Intermediaries: The zamindari system was abolished and ownership rights were given to the actual tiller of land.
(ii) Regulation of Rent: Rent was regulated and a maximum limit of 33% of the value of the crop was fixed.
(iii) Land Ceiling: The maximum size of landholding that an agricultural household could own was limited. The surplus land was acquired after paying compensation and was re-distributed among poor farmers.
(iv) Consolidation of Landholding: To increase productivity, farmers were given a big piece of land in place of small and fragmented fields.
(v) Cooperative Farming: Cooperative farming was encouraged to get benefit from the gains of consolidation of holdings.