Subdivision and fragmentation of land holdings and their implication in desertification in the Thar Desert, India

Analysis of data at the household level in Khabra Kalan village in the Thar desert of India revealed that the land holding size is halved every 20–30 years due to subdivision of land holdings. The subdivision is caused by the equal sharing among sons at the time of inheritance based on the succession laws, and attributed to the increase in the village population. The shrinking land holdings resulted in a shortfall of food on small farms; 12% in cereals and 42% in pulses, promoted continuous cultivation and the increase of monoculture, and deteriorated the land productivity through its effect on the soil fertility and land management.