PIB TrackerThe 11th Agricultural Census (2021-22): counting India's farms, holdings and how land is used
India's 11th Agricultural Census, with reference year 2021-22, has completed its three-phase field work — mapping the number and size of operational holdings, cropping and irrigation, and input use — the key data source on the country's changing farm structure, from a shrinking average holding to rising fragmentation.
What happened
- India's 11th Agricultural Census (reference year 2021-22) has completed its three-phase field work.
- The Census is conducted every five years with states/UTs; this one commenced in 2022.
- Phase I enumerates all operational holdings and area; Phase II samples 20% of villages for cropping/irrigation; Phase III samples 7% for input use.
- It is the principal data source on the structure of Indian agriculture — holdings, land use, tenancy and gender.
- The prior 2015-16 Census showed ~14.65 crore holdings, average size 1.08 ha (shrinking) — rising fragmentation.
For Prelims
- Agriculture Census: Conducted every five years (by the Ministry of Agriculture with states/UTs); the main source on operational holdings and land structure; the 11th is for 2021-22.
- Operational holding: All land used wholly or partly for agriculture and operated as one unit (regardless of ownership) — the census's basic unit.
- Three phases: Phase I (complete enumeration of holdings/area), Phase II (20% sample — cropping/irrigation), Phase III (7% sample — input use).
- Key trends (2015-16): ~14.65 crore holdings; average size 1.08 ha (down from 1.15 ha in 2010-11); ~86% small & marginal farmers.
- Small & marginal: Marginal = below 1 ha; small = 1-2 ha — the vast majority of Indian holdings.
- Fragmentation: Shrinking average holding size raises concerns for viability, mechanisation and credit; land consolidation and FPOs are responses.
For UPSC: A useful agriculture-and-data item — the Agricultural Census and India's farm structure. Use it for the number/size of operational holdings, small and marginal farmers and fragmentation, land use and tenancy, and the implications for credit, mechanisation, FPOs and farmer welfare.
What it is NOT: This is a status update on the census's field-work completion and methodology (a parliamentary reply), not a release of the 2021-22 results. The specific 2021-22 figures follow once the data is compiled and published.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.4 · GS3.1 · Linkage L1
Anchor
Knowing the farm to serve it — the census that maps India's operational holdings and land use.
Substantiation (data)
11th Agriculture Census (ref year 2021-22), three-phase field work completed; enumerates holdings, cropping/irrigation and input use; the 2015-16 Census showed ~14.65 crore holdings, average 1.08 ha (shrinking).
Exemplification
The three-phase design (complete enumeration + 20%/7% samples) capturing structure, cropping and input use.
Problematisation
Shrinking, fragmented holdings challenge viability, mechanisation and credit; timely, granular data is vital for policy.
Way-forward
Use census data for targeted credit, mechanisation, FPOs and land-consolidation and to track women's landholding.
Position
Robust, up-to-date agricultural data underpins effective, targeted policy for a fragmented farm sector.
Deploys into: Economy & agriculture — agriculture + Indian economy (GS3.4, GS3.1) · the Agriculture Census and operational holdings, small/marginal farmers and fragmentation, and land use/tenancy data for policy.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare · 2026-07-21 · PRID 2287251 · PIB source ↗