ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND HOLDINGS USING STRATIFICATION TECHNIQUES IN JAMMU DISTRICT
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Date
2015
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Division of Agricultural Economics & Statistics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
Abstract
An investigation entitled “Assessment of Agricultural Land Holdings using Stratification Techniques in Jammu District” was conducted with the objectives to assess the agricultural land holdings pattern in Jammu district as well as to categorize the farmers of Jammu District on the basis of their land holdings. The information on land use pattern is necessary to develop future research strategies on land use planning and policies. Categorization of farmers based on land holdings may be properly done using various stratification techniques as the size of land holdings varies from farmer to farmer. For the purpose of categorization of landholdings, the techniques used for stratification were cumulative square-root (cum.√f) rule and cumulative cube-root (cum.∛f ) as these have been found to be more suitable and practicable in most of the cases . The method of choosing the best boundaries that make strata internally homogeneous as far as possible is known as optimum stratification. To achieve this, the strata should be constructed in such a way that the strata variances for the characteristic under study be as small as possible. Land use pattern indicated that out of total reporting area of the Jammu district, which was 237.02 thousand ha in the both the periods I (2007-08) and II (2012-13), 13 percent was under forest during both the periods, 34 percent and 38 percent net sown area in period-I and period-II showed increase by 4 percent. For area not available for cultivation, the figures stood at 75.05 and 68.99 thousand ha for the period I and II, respectively, thereby showing a decrease of 6.06 thousand ha. It accounted 32 percent in the period-I and 29 percent in the period-II showing marginal decrease. The area under fallow land had increased to 17.57 thousand ha in the period-II from the figure of 5.37 thousand ha in the period-I, accounting 5.37 percent and observed rise through the period and stood at 7 percent in the period-II. The area under other uncultivated land excluding fallows stood to the tune of 45.63 thousand ha and 29.77 thousand ha in the respective periods, which accounted for 19 and 13 percent of the total reporting area respectively indicating decrease under such lands. As per the present investigation the categorization of land holding (in ha) was found to be marginal (0-0.85), small (0.85-1.95), semi-medium (1.95-3.35), medium (3.35-5.22), large (5.22-8.0) and very large (8.0 & above). On the basis of auxiliary variable viz. agricultural net income, wheat production, Paddy production, and maize production, significantly highly correlated with study variable, the categorization were also done. And, in case of net income, the strata were: marginal (0.0-11.16.67), small (16.67-39.25), semi – medium (39.25-68.17), medium (68.17-105.79), large
(105.79-176.0) and very large (176.00 & above), In wheat production: marginal (0.0-11.94), small(11.94-26.80), semi-medium (26.80-48.01), medium(48.01-75.45), large(75.45-120.0) and very large (120.00 & above) Paddy production marginal (0.0-18.19), small(18.19-37.18), semi-medium (37.18- 60.79), medium(60.79-86.76), large(86.76-160.00) and very large (160.00 & above) Maize production marginal (0.0-5.95), small(5.95-14.51), semi-medium (14.51-27.53), medium(27.53-46.89), large(46.95-80.00) and very large (80.00 & above). In most of the cases of stratification, cumulative square-root (cum.√f) rule has been found to be better than cumulative cube-root (cum.∛f) , as indicated by the respective relative frequencies.