Land holding pattern and efficiency of agricultural production in Nepal - A case study in the eastern hill of Nepal

Abstract

This study was carried out to identify the land holding pattern and process of land acquisition among the farm households of different food availability status in the eastern hill of Nepal. Analysis on the relationship between the land size and agricultural production, land type, land use ratio, fertilizer use, productivity, family size, employment pattern and cash form non-farm source are made and discussed. In depth analysis of the production environment of households with different land size but obtaining similar cash value of production are carried out and associated factors are presented. The survey result shows an extremely unequal distribution of land among the household categories, indicating a declining trend of land holding from the food surplus to the food deficit households. Positive relation was found between the land size and the annual gross cash value of agricultural production. However, negative relation found between the land size and productivity of maize and millet; both upland and major hill crops, provides a critical issues to be face in terms of poverty eradication and maintaining food security in the hill of Nepal. Interestingly, positive relation was found between the fertilizer use and productivity of maize and wheat.