Rithika Pulagiri, Research Intern at the Foundation presented a seminar on “A study on land market in Karnataka State”. The seminar was based on her Master’s dissertation.

Rithika’s study examines land market dynamics in a village in the Indian state of Karnataka. The study uses data collected by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) to “dissect trends and processes occurring in landscape interactions and cut practices across small, remote and large farmers”.

It focuses on the volume and direction of land sales and purchases, as well as emerging trends in land rental. The study uses descriptive statistics to examine the trends of land transactions. The findings reveal that small marginal farmers are more likely to be sellers than buyers in the land market. The study also revealed constraints that hamper the functioning of the land market in Karnataka. It highlights issues such as poorly maintained and inaccurate land records, coupled with high transaction costs that prevent formal land transactions from happening. Furthermore, the study highlights the disproportionate influence of wealthy landowners, industrialists and land developers in the market.

It argues that the robust rules and regulations implemented by the state are critical to addressing these challenges and ensuring the smooth functioning of the land market.

The seminar was presented in a hybrid mode. Professor V.K. Ramachandran, Professor Madhura Swaminathan, and V. Namasivayam joined the seminar online whereas Arindam Das, Dona Safui, Nikita Gupta, Sai Chandan Kotu, Sandipan Baksi, Sethu C.A, Tapas Modak, and Utkarsh joined from the Foundation’s office.

Here are a few glimpses from the seminar…