In my quest to buy agriculture land, I’ve been researching a lot. Cultivated Land closer to cities/town with access to main road/highways are a forget forget thing for me (Probably the same for most of us newbies). Most of these already cultivated land are going for excess of 8 lakhs an acre. Unaffordable!!!. Buying a piece of land in distant far away remote places seems like a decent bet considering limited budget. But then again the problem is most of these land in far away remote places are inherited lands with very little or no documentation at all. How do you over come this problem? I was talking to a relative this morning and he advised me to simply go ahead and buy these pieces of land at reasonable price (the ones without registered deed) He said “do what you have to on the piece of land, wait for 5 years and then apply to the government for de-notifications”. Essentially these are government land sold around without formal titles. I’m not sure if this approach works for me but surely it has for many. Just encroach government land
Ive been looking for cheap uncultivated land in karnataka ( uttar karnataka and dakshina karnataka) for sometime now but its not easy to find one. Either the price is too high or no documents. Infact, What I have been seeing is that existing land owners in these remote places are slowing cutting down surrounding forest area and increasing their land holding. 2 years ago I met a farmer who has 20 acres of inherited land. Now he hold excess of 24 acres arecanut plantations.
Thanks for your thoughts. You probably missed my above paragraph. My suggestion was that farmers can mitigate some of the losses or increase their income by adding value to their produce. I never meant that “everyone” should process their produce. Those who can should probably do it. There is no harm and shame if you want to earn more. Point is we all need money to survive. The point i was trying to make is that should you do agriculture to earn an income then it should be looked upon like any other business. Just like an individual for ex a shop keeper would do to maximize his profits.
Like I said, Do it only if you are passionate about it and money will follow eventually. But does that mean we don’t stock of profit and losses? Anyone planning to venture into farming should analyze potential to sell his produce. It would be unwise to grow something that you cannot sell in time. Its not that farmers who are growing highly perishable goods have no other option. They can always multi crop to minimize losses if prices of one crop falls. Its just that they are not well educated to explore other crop options. That’s exactly why a good education in agriculture is important. One of the key to success in most aspects of life is versatility and adaptability. You have endeavor to plan everything except the weather.
Personally, I would love to do agriculture for I think I would love it. My heart is in the farm lands. I presently live in the city to make my ends meet. But I am on my way to make my dream a reality. So do many more people on this forum.
Israel is growing crops at what cost? They have no choice so they have to do it. They are probably eating hybrids and a lot of fertilizer for dinner and lunch. We don’t have to follow them and other western countries just because they have larger outputs. Lets ask here if their methodology is sustainable in the long run???
I support Chandra on this front. It will be these guys who sold you who will come back to claim it from you !! Gone are the days, where villagers used to be simple and honest folk. Today I find them the most crooked and cunning. My hard learnt lessons.
Once you start searching for land and as you progress you will come to know of it first hand. I can smell one crook from miles now. Finding a guy who intends to do a straight deal is a rarity. Like finding “Higgs boson” the gods particle.
Of course, I mentioned encroaching on government land in jest . Like I said, the idea doesn’t work for me. To many pitfalls. But, fact is, it works a lot in remote areas where farmers have no documentary piece of evidence to their land holding. I would easily assume that most of the land holding in India is inherited land which basically means that someone at some point in time just encroached it. Our government doesn’t really sell agricultural land to the general public. Do they? So the problem continues.
Very true, all the lands earlier belonged to kings and after their exit, to the British government and after them to Indian govt (Some under revenue the rest under forest) . That is why govt still uses that old law dated 18th century to get hold of agri lands. The eye of the storm now.
. To collect the taxes the govt used to give something called as “Saguvali chit” mentioning the survey number and the area under it and the annual tax to be paid. Over a period this got inherited. Due to sub division some got the adjoining lands attached. Called parampoke or in kannada “othoo vari” Means illegally encroached. The entire coffee belt in chickmagalur and arecanut plantations in westren ghats are this. few acres in their name and adjoining land rightfully theirs. It also becomes practically difficult for forest dept to take care of this patchy lands here and there… So they close their eyes.
Then these, over a matter of time became the title for the land. In karnataka, this type of gifted lands are called “Dharkast” or locally called Dharkasu. Means granted land and in case of SC/SC cannot be sold or alienated permanently or if the DC gives permission . This is done to protect them. For others a ban of 15 years was put.
All the free holding lands are of this type. Only the time of grant varies !!! Some during the king times some during british times some during our govt election times etc.
I too bought 6.5 Acres of land, no one knows how they inherited. Only the sellers name was there on the RTC and I bought, now the RTC has my name on it. . So I am the owner and in the mutation register it says I got hold of this land thru sale deed no xxxxxxxxx Dated dd/mm/yy mentioned in Govt book xx dated dd/mm/yy >:( What a complication it is …
Lucky you are now a designated farmer. Congrats!! I also heard of this concent of “kumki” in Dakshina karnataka district where you hold 1-2-3 whatever acres of land which is registered in your name when you buy it and you get some additional government land with it for your use. This additional land, I suppose is called “kumki”. Ofcourse the seller charges your for the additional land.
I think we have managed to hijack this thread into " Agricultural land acquisitions and its problems"
Hi Mr.Raitha!
I think you are so smart that you quickly understand the real fact and consequences when on venturing into Agriculture. Really you are the real software engineer.
Best of luck
Hi Software turned Agriculturist.
Worth working on our own for feature. We can earn money in job until we will be able to meet the targets in stipulated by Bosses, if no. Than fire. Age limit in JOB (Just Obeying Boss) is up to 60 years. But in agriculture full of 100 years with additional enhanced bonus life for having lived with mother nature. Our short time efforts will feeds us not only for our entire life, but our children life also.
Our expected life is about 100 years and in your activity in agriculture should also towards more than 100 years.
All of your efforts in each time should be towards at least 100 years and not for short terms please note.
10 open wells are equivalent to one Pond.
10 Ponds are equivalent to one Lake.
10 Lakes are equivalent to one Reservoir.
10 Reservoirs are equivalent to one SON.
10 Sons are equivalent to one TREE.
Hope you noted the value of a tree and it is more worthy than our own son, because we are not sure that our children may take care of us. But Iam sure that tree will not fail your expectation not only for you. but for your children and their children also.
Hope both of you are active now in agriculture activity and getting some fruitful returns out of your best efforts.
Can you share latest updates of farm activities if possible?
Bye the bye I born and bought up in Agriculture family and was with financial Institution and was headed Karnataka State for Legal. Now from past 3 years fully dedicated in Agriculture activity with agri produce business. Long journey, identifying new and learning lessons form the world is my hobbys.
I quit Accenture and came to Mysore 2 years back with a dream of making a living out of Agriculture. We 7 of us bought 10 acres in wayanad and 16 acres near Mysore. Slowly, the land is transforming to a ‘farm’.
One thing I’ve realized is the project plan in software industry is very different from that of the Agriculture. In terms of scale, we should only talk about months and years in Agriculture, unlike the days and hours in Software. And having Plan B, C, D, E… are mandatory in Agriculture as the probability of failure is quite high.
Based on my experience, it’d take 4-5 years to start making a living out of Agriculture. So, it’s important to plan those initial 4-5 years both monetarily as well as agriculturally.
The malnutrition and farmer deaths are a national shame. Lets show that Agriculture can help in the growth of the nation!
Awesome man. Congrats!! Are you a full time farmer now?? What are you growing? Can you share with us some pictures of what your land was like before you began to transform it into a “farm”? please tell us more about your transition from techie to farmer.
Im sure many others here would like to know about your experiences.
Why would it need 4-5 years? Did you mean to say that it would take you 4-5 years to make a meaningful venture of your farm?? If not, does not the cash flow depend on what you are growing? Assuming that someone already has the land, Horticulture crops can give you faster returns, as little as 2-3 months. Of course, its a lot of back breaking hard work to grow these crops.
If the farm is ready with water and power and if there’s good source of manual labour nearby, perhaps the returns can come faster.
In organic farming, the readiness of the soil would be the major deciding criteria. If the soil isn’t rich and has some inherent deficiencies, then the cost of enriching the soil is directly proportionate to the duration. Either large amounts of manure can be bought, brought and dumped on the land or slowly enrich the soil with locally produced manure.
So, if returns from the farm venture is critical for the sustenance of life from day 1, then good availability of water, power, soil and manual labour should be considered while selecting the land.
Our land in Mysore is more a land than a farm. I tried setting up a website www.mysore-green-commune.com but hasn’t been regular in updating it…will share more details about our farm soon…
There is a variety called Mangala and another one called Sumangala, I am told this starts bearing with in 3 to 4 years. Any idea where to source it.
Near Puttur, I am told there are a few pvt nurseries dealing with them costing @ Rs 7 to 8 each. But to bring it to my place, the transportation would work out to another 6 to 8 K.
I may require initially around 5 K nos. Do let me know where I can source it. Alternate would be to get the seeds and plant it in covers for my self. The transportation on this would be saved. But need to wait for another year for it to mature in to strong saplings.
Murali,
Saplings can be available during may and june.
Seeds will be available during October and November. Seeds has to get only from reliable farmers.
It really makes me happy to see so many people moving out or at least planning to move out of IT into agriculture. You can add me to the list. I bought a 11 acre farm in Nov 2010 and am in the process of reviving it (it was neglected for more than a decade). I have an acre of areca (where I introduced banana, turmeric and pepper), about 2 acres of really malnourished coconut trees (close to 100 in number), 2.5 acres of paddy and the rest is covered with cashew, acacia and wild trees.
Murali and Raitha, I guess I am on the same level as you guys and will get in touch with each one of you to exchange thoughts and ideas. My idea is to retire from IT in the next 3-5 years.
AK,
It is happening from long back and it will happen more in feature.
Circle of life style is rounding.
Nowadays people producing calculated children only to get a job in their or to gain certain degree to work under some one.
Changing path in life may halt our progress or its speed while changing from one sector to another.
Few making their children to achieve something. But try to have self dependency in Agriculture and guide children to live independently to live peacefully on their own choice with at most care on their own life and goal.
Agriculture life is healthy, wealthy and peaceful if any one can plan perfectly.
Have great ahead for all of you people.
What a complication it is …