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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
Pressure comes on land from two directions--the continued and steady demand for land for industry and housing, and the need to meet the growing requirements of the rural community. It is im- portant to remember that 79 per cent of the total area of the territory is marginal land, in differing degrees of sub-grade charac- ter. The arable land and fish ponds already exploited comprise only 13.2 per cent of the total area and the expanding urban areas (the remaining 7.8 per cent) tend to encroach more directly on arable rather than on marginal land. It is unavoidable that fields will be lost to agriculture, or at least that agriculture in some areas will be confined to market gardens. This trend is, however, being offset by more intensive production and by development of marginal land.
There has been a continuing study of land use by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department since a survey in 1953. Much work has also been done by independent researchers. The general picture of land use today is indicated by the following table:
Approximate Percentage
Remarks
Class
area
(square miles)
of whole
(i) Built-up (urban areas)
31.0
(ii) Steep country
111.0
27.9
7.9 Includes roads and
railways.
Rocky, precipitous hill- sides incapable of plant establishment.
(iii) Woodlands
23.3
5.8
Natural and established woodlands.
(iv) Grass and scrub lands
155.21
39.0
Natural grass and scrub.
(v) Eroded lands...
20.0
5.0
Stripped of cover. Granite
country. Capable of re- generation.
(vi) Swamp and mangrove
lands
5.2
1.3
Capable of reclamation.
(vii) Fish Ponds
2.6
0.7
Fresh and brackish water fish farming.
(viii) Arable
50.0
12.5
Includes
orchards and
market gardens.
POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department concerns itself with optimum land utilization and provides technical, extension and advisory services to farmers. It also deals with the fishermen on the