Factors Affecting Inactive Land Transactions in a Semi-arid Area: Case of Tank-irrigated Village in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The factors and mechanism underlying inactive land transaction in a semi-arid area were examined by studying a tank-irrigated village in the state of Tamil Nadu. Although a gradual shift of land ownership from communities belonging to a higher caste to those from a lower caste was observed, agricultural production in the study village declined not only in the dryland, but also the tank command area. This might be caused by the low groundwater availability in the hard rock area and a deterioration in the functioning of the tank management body caused by domestic out-migration. Government promotion of crops requiring less water, such as millets, might be the only way to secure their livelihood if rapid economic development has to continue in Tamil Nadu.