Agricultural Census

Karnataka > Agricultural Census

Agricultural Census is a quinquenial census conducted once in five years since its inception in 1970-71. So far seven Agricultural Census have been conducted, the latest being 2000-01.The year 1995-96 was declared as Land Records Year'. In this census, the number and size of operational holdings were collected both for male and female operational holders separately for the first time. The total number of operational holdings as per 1995-96 Agricultural census is 62.21 lakhs and the total area of operational holdings is found to be 121.09 lakh ha. The number and area operated by male is 53.19 lakhs with 105.51 lakh ha while in case of female, the number of operational holdings is 8.94 with 14.13 lakh ha area operated.

The average size of operational holdings for the current census is found out to be 1.95 ha. The average size of operational holdings held by female operational holders was 1.58 ha. Which is comparatively less when compared to 2.00 ha of average size holdings held by male operational holdings.

The number of operational holdings under Scheduled Caste group has increased to 7.26 lakhs in 1995-96 and the area operated has increased to 10.38 lakh ha. Under Scheduled Tribe group also the number of operational holdings increased to 3.34 lakhs and the area of operational holdings to 6.61 lakh ha.

Agriculture in the State is mainly dependent on rainfall as more than 70 to 75 per cent of area depends wholly or partially on rainfall for crop production. The rainfall is not evenly distributed across the area as well as over time, and this gives rise to low productivity in rain fed agriculture. South-West (June to September) and North-East (October to December) monsoons are the important sources of rains. South-West Monsoon constitutes nearly 71 per cent of annual rainfall. During 1998, season-wise normal and actual rainfall in mm is as follows: South West monsoon - 846.6; 1173, North-East monsoon - 199.5; 233, Cold Weather period (January to February)-4.8; nil, and Hot Weather period (March to May)-137.7; 70. As regards the distribution of net area sown under rainfall regions in the State, 66.3 per cent of the area is distributed under low rainfall region and 24.3 per cent of area under medium rainfall region.

The different soils in the State have distinct, varying morphological and physico-chemical properties that have an influence on the unique status of the soils. The extent of coverage of different types of soils is as follows:

1. Shallow black soils (1.3%)
2. Medium Black soils (20.34%)
3. Deep black soils (10.25%), 4) Red sandy soils (29.27%)
4. Mixed red and black soils (11.82%)
5. Red loamy soils (15.14%)
6. Laterite soils and laterite gravely soils (9.3%)
7. Coastal alluvial soils (2.58%)