118
We also came across instances where the loss of some
rural occupations and the depression that has under-
taken others, as a result of foreign competition and
changes in fashion, have compelled the people to resort
to agriculture as a means of livelihood. Though a
large number of Dheds who lost their hereditary occu-
_g
ition of weaving blankets, has migrated to places like
ombay for menial service, the remaining have increased
their landed estate by purchase. Again, some of the
tailors, potters and carpenters residing in the village
have augmented their landed possessions in order to sup-
plement their small earnings from their slowly decaying
occupations. Thus the pressure on the soil has increas-
ed, accentuating the already serious state of affairs.
We have thus studied the extent of subdivision and
fragmentation of land and traced the causes which are in
operation in this village. It is obvious that the study
confirms the general causes of this evil pointed out by
distinguished Indian Economists. Its disastrous effects
on agricultural production may be summed up in the words
of the Royal Commission on Indian Agriculture : "Even
where cultivation is possible, fragmentation involves end-
less waste of time, money and effort; it restrains the cul-
tivators from attempting improvements ; it enforces uni-
formity of cropping, and especially restricts the growing
of fodder crops in the period when cattle are usually
sent out to graze in the fields." ^l
We have so far seen that the distribution of land as"
it is owned in this village is very defective : not in the
sense that property in land is confined to a few but
in the sense that land exists in a highly subdivided and
fragmented state. This makes agriculture an extremely
precarious occupation. We now propose to see whether
the other essential of profitable agriculture, namely, culti-
vation by owners is present or not.
among themselves, so far as the occupation of land is concerned;" P.i6.
Report of the Pardi Taluka (Surat District) Economic Enquiry Commit-
tee, 1926*
1 Main Report, p. 135.