Land laws in India were introduced during the Mughal rule. Therefore, Urdu, Arabic and Persian words are commonly used in the country’s land record system even though they are being digitised. To understand these records, one must understand the Urdu, Arabic and Persian terms used in the land records. In this guide, we will explain Chahi land and its bearing on someone investing in such a land.
See also: What is Barani land?
Land classification in India based on access to irrigation systems
In a country where a large part of the population depends on agriculture for a living, land records are detailed. Among other details, records of agricultural land mention the type of irrigation used for cultivation. This is crucial since a great deal of productivity is determined by rainfall or easy access to irrigation sources, such as rivers, wells, canals and ponds. This contributes to the land value as well, considering only half of India’s cultivable land has access to assured irrigation sources. The remaining half depends on monsoon for cultivation.
What is Chahi (चाही) land?
Chahi is a Persian noun of feminine gender, which means ‘land lying adjacent to a water source’. The land described as Chahi (चाही) indicates land that is irrigated using water from wells.
How is Chahi (चाही) land different from Chahi Mustar (चाही मुस्तार) and Chahi Nahri (चाही नहरी)?
Chahi Mustar is land irrigated using purchased water. Chahi Nahri is land irrigated partially from a well and partially from a canal.
How valuable is Chahi land in India?
Since the productivity of agricultural land is significantly determined by its access to irrigation sources, Chahi land is highly valuable because of its claim on water bodies. When compared to land that has no easy access to water, Chahi land is of higher value. The productivity of such land is higher due to the controlled supply of water, unlike land that depends on the monsoon.
FAQs
What is India’s total agricultural land bank?
According to government data, India has an agricultural land bank of 1,80,888 thousand hectares.
How much cultivated land does India have?
According to government data, India has 1,53,888 thousand hectares of cultivated land.
How much of cultivated land in India has access to assured irrigation?
Data available with the NITI Ayog show that more than half of India’s cultivable land has access to assured irrigation.
What are the major sources of irrigation used in India?
Major irrigation sources in India include rivers, canals, wells and tanks. Sprinklers and drip irrigation systems are also commonly used.
What is Chahi Nahri land?
Chahi Nahri is land irrigated partially from a well and partially from a canal.
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