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Tue, 18 Oct 2016 11:20:18 +0000
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This is Mahesh Chander from India, again. 

About categories of farmers. In India, farmers are categorised  into the following categories based on land owning status. Most of the researchers use this classification. It is also common in research projects and students thesis:

1. landless: No land in his or her name.
2. marginal: less than 1 ha land
3. small: 1-2 ha land
4. Large: >2 ha

Still many have several sub-divisions for farmers owning over 2 ha, as follows:

4. Semi-medium: 2-4 ha land
5. Medium: 4-6 ha land
6. large: above 6 ha

If we compare the above classification with the European Union, South America & North American and Australian farms, it would look drastically non-comparable, where farms less than 50 ha could in fact be small!!

Even within India there could be difference in drylands & wetlands with respect to per ha productivity so the concept of classification merely based on size of land may be impractical. Classifying farmers merely based on size of land, than on its net productivity/net returns from it which is more inclusive of allied activities like livestock and fishery, appears to be unjustified. Yet, it is a commonly accepted way of classifying, probably for the want of a valid method. I wonder about the outcome of research projects when they are classifying farmers based on the land they own and comparison made across regions! (1 ha land in the desert of Rajasthan and 1 ha farm in Punjab will have varying output from the land).

Mahesh Chander
Principal Scientist & Head, 
Div of Extension Education 
ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 
Izatnagar-243122 (UP)-243122 
India
E-mail: mchanderivri (at) gmail.com
Mob: +91 9411087833
+91581 2302391
www.ivri.nic.in

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