Examining the nature and pattern of agricultural land leasing system in eastern plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Agricultural land leasing plays a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods and enhancing access to cultivable land, particularly for small and marginal farmers in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Despite its socio-economic importance, tenancy in the region remains predominantly informal. Based on primary data collected from 240 respondents (150 lessees and 90 lessors) across Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar, and Barabanki districts, the study examines the socio-economic nature and patterns of agricultural land leasing. The findings reveal a complete absence of documented tenancy, with 100 percent of agreements being oral, reflecting strong reliance on trust, kinship relations, and fear of legal complications. Annual tenancy and very long-term tenancy coexist, highlighting short-term economic needs alongside inherited or continuously renewed relationships. Non-inherited leasing dominates, indicating that leasing decisions are largely driven by current economic conditions. Fixed cash leasing emerges as the most prevalent system, accounting for 70 percent of cases, supported by flexible rent payment structures. Crop-sharing systems continue but remain secondary. Overall, agricultural land leasing in Eastern Uttar Pradesh remains socially governed, economically significant, and largely outside formal legal frameworks, necessitating policy attention for secure and equitable tenancy systems.