Cultivator

In the context of employment and occupational classification, a cultivator refers to a person engaged in the cultivation of land, either for personal use or as an occupation. Cultivators are individuals who own or lease agricultural land and are actively involved in its supervision or management, often contributing manual labour alongside family members or hired workers. The term is commonly used in agricultural census and economic surveys, particularly in India and other agrarian economies, to distinguish them from agricultural labourers and other rural workers.

Definition

A cultivator is defined as a person who is engaged in the cultivation or supervision of cultivation of land owned or held from government or private persons or institutions for payment in money, kind, or share of produce.
Cultivation includes all activities related to:

• Growing crops, fruits, vegetables, or plantations.
• Managing land for fallowing, sowing, and harvesting.
• Raising cash crops, horticultural crops, and subsistence crops.

In official census classifications, a cultivator must have operational control over land, unlike an agricultural labourer, who merely works for wages.

Categories of Cultivators

Cultivators can be categorised based on ownership, operational scale, and type of farming:

1. Owner-Cultivators:
   • Those who own the land they cultivate and bear full responsibility for production and management.
   • They may employ family or hired labour but retain control over agricultural decisions.
2. Tenant-Cultivators (Lessee Farmers):
   • Individuals who cultivate land taken on lease or rent from others.
   • Rent may be paid in cash, kind, or a share of the produce (sharecropping).
3. Owner-Cum-Tenant Cultivators:
   • Those who cultivate partly owned and partly leased land.
4. Sharecroppers or Bargadars:
   • Cultivators who work on another person’s land in return for an agreed share of the produce.
5. Small and Marginal Cultivators:
   • Small cultivators operate 1–2 hectares of land, while marginal cultivators manage less than 1 hectare.
   • These groups form the majority of cultivators in developing countries like India.

Characteristics of Cultivator Employment

• Nature of Work: Primarily seasonal and dependent on climatic conditions.
• Skill Requirement: Involves practical knowledge of sowing, irrigation, soil management, and harvesting.
• Work Environment: Rural and land-based, influenced by monsoon variability, soil fertility, and access to irrigation.
• Economic Status: Varies widely, from small subsistence farmers to large commercial landholders.
• Family Labour: Cultivation often involves family-based labour systems, particularly in small holdings.

Role in the Economy

Cultivators form the backbone of agrarian economies, especially in developing countries where agriculture remains a dominant occupation. Their significance includes:

1. Food Production:
   • Cultivators are directly responsible for producing staple grains, vegetables, and fruits essential for food security.
2. Employment Generation:
   • A large proportion of the rural workforce depends on cultivation as a primary or supplementary occupation.
3. Rural Economy and Livelihoods:
   • Cultivators sustain rural economies through crop production, livestock management, and participation in local markets.
4. Contribution to GDP:
   • In agrarian economies, cultivation contributes significantly to national income, export earnings, and raw materials for industries.
5. Cultural and Social Role:
   • Cultivators maintain traditional agricultural practices and play a vital role in the social structure of rural communities.

Distinction Between Cultivators and Agricultural Labourers

This distinction is crucial for understanding rural employment patterns and landholding structures in agrarian societies.

Problems and Challenges Faced by Cultivators

Cultivators, particularly small and marginal farmers, face numerous constraints:

1. Fragmented Landholdings: Small plots reduce efficiency and limit mechanisation.
2. Dependence on Monsoon: Unreliable rainfall makes crop production risky.
3. Limited Access to Credit: Many cultivators depend on informal loans with high interest rates.
4. Low Productivity: Poor soil management, lack of technology, and inadequate inputs hinder yields.
5. Market Instability: Price fluctuations and lack of assured procurement reduce profitability.
6. Indebtedness: Crop failures and low returns lead to chronic debt and, in extreme cases, farmer distress.
7. Labour Shortages: Migration and alternative employment opportunities reduce the availability of agricultural labour.
8. Land Tenure Issues: Unclear land rights affect security and discourage investment in land improvement.

Government Policies and Support Measures

To support cultivators and enhance rural livelihoods, various policies and programmes have been implemented:

• Subsidised Credit and Crop Insurance: Programmes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provide financial security.
• Minimum Support Prices (MSP): Ensure fair prices for major crops.
• Soil Health and Irrigation Schemes: Initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) improve productivity.
• Land Reforms and Tenancy Regulation: Aimed at ensuring equitable access to land and protection for tenant cultivators.
• Training and Technology Transfer: Agricultural extension programmes disseminate scientific farming techniques.

Statistical Representation

In the Census of India, cultivators are classified under the main workforce engaged in agriculture. The 2011 Census recorded approximately 119 million cultivators, accounting for nearly 25% of the total workforce. However, the proportion of cultivators has been gradually declining due to urbanisation, mechanisation, and shifts to non-agricultural employment.

Importance in Geography and Employment Studies

From a geographical perspective, the study of cultivators reveals:

• Spatial patterns of agricultural employment, showing concentration in rural and monsoon-dependent regions.
• Relationship between landholding size and economic development.
• Regional disparities in productivity, technology use, and access to irrigation.
• Impact of environmental change on rural livelihoods and migration.