2LARGE FARMERS IN THE LEASE MARKET How and Why Do They Enter the Market? Are Marginal Farmers Affected in the Process?

1. The importance of economically dominant farmers is increasing in the lease market for agricultural land. This is particularly evident from the NSS data of 1981-82 and 1991-92 on the percentage of operational hold-ings and operated area under tenancy and on the shares of large farmers in total tenanted holdings and tenanted area. Increase in the significance of large farmers in the lease market is a disquieting development because: m Taking advantage of tenancy laws the farmers can get conferred ownership or occupancy rights on tenanted lands under their control. m They can take advantage of the laws and cause hardship to petty lessors (landlords) and, in particular, to institutional lessors. m They can displace petty peasants from the lease market. m They can expose poor tenants to a process of self-exploitation by vying with them for land in the lease market. 2. The once isolated incidents of the practice of large farmers takin