question_answer

Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?

Answer:

The present land use pattern in India for the year 2000-03 is as follows:

Land use categories 2000-03.

 

(i)  Forests 22.5%

(ii) Area under non agricultural use 7.92%

(iii) Barren and wasteland 6.29%

(iv) Permanent pastures and grazing lands 3.45%

(v) Area under miscellaneous tree crops 1.1%

(vi) Cultural waste 4.4%

(vii) Fallow other than current fallow 3.82%

(viii) Current fallow 7.03%

(ix)  Net sown Area 43.4%.

Forest area has increased marginally from 18% in 1960-61 to 22% in 2000-03. This is mainly due to increasing pressure of population on land. Land is a fixed asset. The ever increasing population has resulted in increased demand for land for various purposes like agriculture and other non agricultural purposes. Hence it has increased marginally by 4% only.