VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh has lost more than one lakh acres of farmland ever since the state was bifurcated and the Chandrababu Naidu government decided to build a grand capital on land taken from farmers on the banks of the Krishna in the Vijayawada- Guntur region, estimates drawn up by the Agriculture Department show.
Total Farlmland: 1.01 crore acres Decrease over 10 years: 4.5 lakh acres Decrease in FY 2014: 49,421 acres Decrease in FY 2015: 55,000 acres |
According to government estimates, agriculture land in Andhra Pradesh dwindled by 49,421 acres in the financial year 2014-15, the first year after bifurcation. In the subsequent year and a few months since then, officials estimate that another 55,000 acres of farmland has been turned to other purposes.
However, this process of reduction of agricultural land predates bifurcation, long-term land-use stats show. Over the past 10 years, cultivable area in Andhra Pradesh has decreased by a whopping 4.5 lakh acres.
As per government figures, agricultural lands are spread over 1.01 crore acres in Andhra Pradesh. Another 49.5 lakh acres are being used for non-agricultural purposes. Much of the 4.5 lakh acres of farmland lost in the last 10 years has been to industrial, infrastructure and recreation development.
The continuing erosion of agricultural lands belies the government's plans to increase cultivable area by at least two lakh acres by implementing irrigation projects.
A good chunk of the lost farmland is due to the Amaravati capital project in Krishna-Guntur districts. The government has secured around 38,000 acres of land for the capital project and allied infrastructure and expressway development.
In addition, the state government has announced that it would acquire around 22,000 acres for the Machilipatnam port development and industrial corridor projects in Krishna district. Another 10,000 acres are to be acquired for various industries and other developmental projects along the coast from Srikakulam to Nellore. Besides, there are several power plants and industrial corridors for which land acquisition is pending.
Agriculture officials said the Agriculture Department has been tasked with increasing the cultivable area while massive chunks are being given over to other uses. Apart from the government's acquisition programme, the real estate market too is eating into farmland in Andhra Pradesh. "Another cause of the depletion of agricultural land is the farmers' switch to aquaculture," said an official of the Agriculture Department.
