Tenancy Structure in Orissa: Implications for Agricultural Growth

This article critically examines basic features of tenancy in Orissa with data from various rounds of NSS. Orissa belongs to the category of high tenancy states in India Major manifestation of tenancy in Orissa is sharecropping. Both the lessors and lessees predominantly hail from marginal and small farm category. The terms and conditions of tenancy contracts are inequitable and regressive in nature favouring the lessors. Contracts are oral, unrecorded. insecure with high rent and characterised by absence of input cost sharing. Though tenancy is legally forbidden in the state, its prevalence suggests that in the specific socio-economic context of labour abundance, land scarcity and dire hunger for land; tenancy seems to play a useful role by providing means of livelihood to the landless and land-poor peasants. Therefore. it is advocated that tenancy should he legalised and recorded This will facilitate resource adjustment and increased agricultural production by transferring land use right from those who are not able to cultivate to those who are willing to cultivate while keeping the landownership right intact and ensure security of tenure and fair rents to tenants.