Geography · Ch 11 — Land Resources and Agriculture
Land Use Categories
Land Use Categories
The land revenue department of each state maintains detailed records of how every parcel of land is used. These records are the source for the official land-use categories. The sum of all these categories gives the reporting area, which is the total area for which land-use data exists. This reporting area is slightly different from the geographical area of the country.
The geographical area is a fixed, unchanging number measured by the Survey of India. The reporting area, on the other hand, can change slightly over time because it depends on the estimates and updates made by the land revenue department. The nine standard land-use categories maintained in these records are as follows.
The area classified as "forest" in land revenue records is not the same as the actual area under forest cover. The record shows the land the government has identified and demarcated for forests. This means the recorded forest area can increase even if no new trees are planted, simply because the government declares more land as forest.
1. Forests
This category includes land that the government has legally notified and demarcated for forest growth. It is a legal/administrative category, not an ecological one.
2. Barren and Wastelands
Land that cannot be brought under cultivation with the technology currently available. Examples include barren hilly terrain, desert lands, and ravines.
3. Land put to Non-agricultural Uses
This covers all land used for purposes other than farming. It includes:
- Settlements (rural and urban)
- Infrastructure (roads, canals)
- Industries and shops
An expansion of secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) activities directly increases this category.
4. Area under Permanent Pastures and Grazing Lands
Most of this land is owned by the village Panchayat or the government, making it a Common Property Resource. Only a small portion is privately owned.
5. Area under Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Groves (Not included in Net Sown Area)
This includes land under orchards and fruit trees. Unlike the previous category, much of this land is privately owned.
6. Culturable Wasteland
Any land that has been left fallow (uncultivated) for more than five years falls here. It can be brought back under cultivation after improvement through reclamation practices.
7. Current Fallow …