Extent, Magnitude and Causes of Tenancy in Central Zone of Punjab

The study has been carried out with the objectives to work out the extent, magnitude, and cause of tenancy in central zone of Punjab. Primary data were collected during the year 2015–16. A total number of 120 farmers were purposely selected, out of which 62 (51.66 percent) farmers were involved in lease-in land and 58 (48.33 percent) were involved in lease-out land transactions. There were four pure tenant farmers (3.33 percent) in the sample. The number of farmers who lease-in land was the highest among semimedium (25.80 percent) and medium farmers. The number of farmers who lease-out land was the highest among small, marginal and semi-medium (25.86 percent) farmers and lowest among large farmers (12.06 percent). The average land rent per acre was 47466 and 41091 of Moga and Amritsar districts respectively with the range of 37000 to 50000. Lack of non-farming employment opportunities was emerges as the major reasons for acquiring leased-in land and lack of resources has emerged as the major reasons for lease-out land. The surplus resources available on the farm, non-viability of small farm, lack of opportunity than agriculture had positively and significantly influenced agricultural lease-in market. However, in lease-out land market high land rent, regular service, residing abroad contributed positively and significantly. Government must in explore the possibilities to generate non-farm employment, fixation of fair land rent, limits on land area to be leased-in to improve the land lease market in Punjab.