Land and water are primary factors of agricultural production. The present market driven approaches of land and water resource utilization are creating stiff competition between their agricultural and non-agricultural usages. The present socio – techno environment due to multi-directional mounting biotic pressure on natural resources, such as land, is finding it difficult to offer sufficient livelihood opportunities particularly to the economically weaker and vulnerable farming groups such as landless, marginal and small landholders. All these factors necessitate formulation of proper land policy and land use planning. Besides, restrictions on land leasing and lack of appropriate legal and institutional arrangements for contract farming stand in the way of diversified rural growth and poverty reduction.

This seminar aims to deliberate upon the issues related to proper management of land resources for diversified and sustainable agricultural development and poverty reduction with special reference to Uttar Pradesh. This seminar is also expected to provide inputs for designing an appropriate land policy and land use system to accelerate the pace of agricultural development and poverty reduction in the next five year plan.