LAHORE, May 29: UP to 80 per cent of the people in the country’s farming sector own only 28 per cent of the privately-owned agricultural land (55.60 million acres), according to the 2010 agricultural census carried out by the Federal Statistics Division.

Against this, big land lords and rich farmers combined, with ownership of more than 50 acres, number only a little more than 100,000 (113,750 to be exact) and make up only 1.44 percent of the land-owning population, but their share in the land is 15.86 million acres or 29 percent of the total agricultural land.

This scribe has obtained a copy of the latest agricultural census which has yet to be officially announced or published. The main points derived from the census data are given below:

In Pakistan, 8.36 million people privately own 55.60 million acres.

As many as 5.6 million people or 67 per cent of the land owners, own only 18 per cent (10.18 million) of the land. These people own up to five acres of the agricultural land and can be categorized as the poorest section of the farming sector.

There are around 19,271 big landlords having above 150 acres and 91.32 million acres. Though they make up only 0.23 per cent of the total land-owners, their share is almost equal to the 67 per cent poorest land-owners.

Rich farmers who own from 50 acres up to 150 acres make up 1.21 per cent (94,479 people) of the total owners, but own 13 per cent (6.73 million acres) of the land.

Middle farmers owning from 12.5 acres to 50 acres number 725,922 or constitute nine per cent of the total owners. They own 15.38 million acres or 27 per cent of the total privately-owned agricultural land.

Small farmers owning from five acres to 12.5 acres number 1.92 million or 23 per cent of the total owners. They own 14.18 million acres or 25 per cent of the total agricultural land.

Following are the exact figures of the land-owning pattern in the country as per the 2010 agricultural census:

Size of area    Number of owners    area (acres) owned (acres) Total    8,355,772 (100%)    55,598,276 (100%) Under 1    1,426,188 (17%)    593,480 (1%) 1.0 to under 2.5    2,473,811 (30%)    3,804,611 (7%) 2.5 to under 5    1,698,714 (20%)    5,780,233 (10%) 5.0 to under 7.5    1,075,431 (13%)    6,142,438 (11%) 7.5 to under 12.5    841,956 (10%)    8,034,177 (14%) 12.5 to under 25    510,682 (6 %)    8,545,537 (15 %) 25 to under 50    215,240 (3 %)    6,837,696 (12%) 50 to under 100    76,816 (1.0%)    4,770,064 (9%) 100 to under 150    17,663 (0.21%)    1,957,648 (4%) 150 and above    19,271 (0.23%)    9,132,392 (16%)