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LAND CONVERSION

I. Introduction

Land Use Conversion is the act or process of changing the current physical use of a
piece of agricultural land into some other use or for another agricultural use other than the
cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of trees, including harvesting of produce
therefrom, as approved by DAR (DAR, 2002).

Reclassification of agricultural land refers to the act of specifying how agricultural

lands shall be utilized for non-agricultural uses such as residential, industrial, commercial,
as embodied in the land use plan, subject to the requirements and procedure for land use
conversion, undertaken by a Local Government Unit (LGU) in accordance with Section 20
of Republic Act (R.A.) 7160 and Joint Memorandum Circular (MC-54-1995) by the
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Department of Agriculture (DA),
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), It also includes the reversion of non-agricultural lands to agricultural use (DAR,
2002).

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LAW

Land classification, reclassification and conversion laws

 R.A. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, allows the conversion
of awarded lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
after the lapse of five (5) years from the granting of the award, if they are no
longer economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes, or the locality
has become urbanized giving the subject lands greater economic value for
residential, commercial or industrial purposes.

 R.A. 7916 or Special Economic Zone Act identifies areas for economic zone
development and prescribes the manner of identifying such areas.

 R.A. 7160 or Local Government Code of 1991 provides the rules for
reclassification of agricultural lands at the local level in terms of authority, grounds
for reclassification and limitations.

 R.A. 8435 or the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA)

provides for the delineation of Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development
Zones (ZAFDZs), preparation of land use and zoning ordinance as well as penalty
for agricultural inactivity and premature conversion.

 DA Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2017: Guidelines on the Issuance of

Certification for Land Use Reclassification provides the principles, procedures and
documentary requirements for processing and approval of land use
reclassification. It derives legal bases from pertinent sections of the Philippine
Constitution, relevant Executive Orders, R.A. 6657, R.A. 8435 and DA’s Charter
of Agricultural Lands.

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 DAR Administrative Order No. 01, Series of 2002: Comprehensive Rules on

Land Use Conversion provides for effective means of evaluating applications for
land use conversion by the DAR regional and central offices.

Agency Functions and Certifications

 Status of classification of subject land under the
Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and
Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD) and
Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development
Zones (SAFDZ)

Department of  Status of irrigation coverage

Agriculture (DA)
 Whether or not the land has ceased to be
economically feasible and sound for agricultural
production

 Eligibility/non-eligibility for reclassification of

agricultural land

 Status of coverage under the CARP and presence

of farmers, tillers or occupants
Department of
Agrarian Reform  Recommends the grant or request for
(DAR) reclassification

 Issuance of Conversion Order

 Inclusion/non-inclusion of subject land in the
Department of
Network of Protected Area System (NIPAS)
Environment and
Natural Resources
 Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) or will involve
(DENR)
an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP)
Department of  Allocation of lands for development of agro-industrial
Trade and Industry centers
(DTI)
Housing and Land  Actual zoning and classification of subject land
Use Regulatory based on Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
Board (HLURB)
 Payment of obligations by the applicant landowner
Land Bank of the
of CARP-awarded lands
Philippines (LBP)

Local Government  Reclassification of lands

Units (LGUs)

Table 1. Functions of various agencies on land use reclassification and conversion

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A. THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW

(Republic Act No. 6657, as amended)

Article XIV. Prohibited Acts and Omissions

Section B. Conversions

1. Authority to Allow Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-agricultural Uses

a. Under Executive Order No. 129-A, Series of 1987, the Department of Agrarian
Reform is authorized to:

i. Approve or disapprove the conversion, restructuring or readjustment of

agricultural lands into non-agricultural uses; [Section 4(j)]

ii. Have exclusive authority to approve or disapprove conversion of agricultural

lands for residential, commercial, industrial and other land uses as may be
provided for by law. [Section 5(l)]

b. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law provides that the DAR ... may
authorize the reclassification or conversion on the land and its disposition.
[Section 65]

2. Conversion
a. After the lapse of five (5) years from its award, when the land ceases to be
economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes, or the locality has
become highly urbanized and the land will have greater economic value for
residential, commercial or industrial purposes, the DAR, upon application of the
beneficiary or the landowner, may authorize the reclassification or conversion on
the land and its disposition: Provided, That the beneficiary shall have fully paid
his obligation. [Section 65]

b. Grounds for conversion

i. Five (5) years had lapsed from the award of the land;

ii. The land ceases to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural
purposes, or the locality has become highly urbanized and the land will have
greater economic value for residential, commercial or industrial purposes; and

iii. Beneficiary shall have fully paid his obligation.

c. Administrative Order No. 20, Series of 1992 [Took effect on 30 December 1992]

* President Fidel V. Ramos directed the observance by all agencies and

local government units the following interim guidelines on agricultural land
use conversion.

i. All irrigated or irrigable agricultural lands shall not be subject to and non-
negotiable for conversion;
ii. All other agricultural lands may be converted only upon strict compliance
with existing laws, rules and regulations.

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3. Disturbance Compensation

* Section 36(1) of Republic Act No. 3844, as amended provides: the

agricultural lessee shall be entitled to disturbance compensation
equivalent to five years rental on his landholding.

* Displaced farmers are entitled to disturbance compensation which varies

depending on the agreement between the farmers and the landowners.

B. AGRICULTURAL LAND CONVERSION BAN ACT OF 2017

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies.

The conversion of agricultural lands to nonagricultural uses shall be governed by the
following policies:
1. The State shall preserve irrigated and irrigable agricultural lands to ensure
food security;

2. The State shall ensure that all sectors of the economy and all regions of the
country are given optimum opportunity to develop, through the rational and
sustainable use of resource I peculiar to each area, in order to maximize
agricultural productivity, to promote efficiency and equity, and to accelerate the
modernization of the agriculture sector of the country; and

3. Conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses shall be strictly

regulated and may be allowed only when conditions prescribed herein arc
present and complied with.

SEC. 4. Scope of the Agricultural Land Conversion Ban.

All irrigated and irrigable agricultural lands planted but not limited to rice, com,
crops, sugar, coconut, vegetables and fruit trees blocked and mapped according
to standards by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management, shall not be
converted into non-agricultural uses.

SEC. 5. Amendments to Republic Act 7160. - Section 20 of Republic Act 7160,

otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Sec. 20. Reclassification of Lands.

(a) A city or municipality may, througli an ordinance passed by the sanggunian
after conducting public hearings for the purpose, authorize the reclassification of
agricultural lands and provide for the manner of their utilization or disposition in
the following cases:

(1) when the land ceases to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural
purposes as determined by the Department of Agriculture (DA) [or];

(2) where the land shall have substantially greater economic value for residential,
commercial, or industrial purposes, as determined by the sanggunian concerned
[:] ; OR

(3) WHEN THE LAND IS NOT IRRIGATED OR IRRIGABLE AND NOT

INCLUDED AMONG AGRICULTURAL LANDS IDENTIFIED BY
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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER (AO) 20, SERIES OF 1992, AS NONNEGOTIABLE

FOR CONVERSION, AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE (DA): PROVIDED, THAT PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF
ANORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING AGRICULTURAL LANDS, THE
SANGGUNIAN CONCERNED MUST FIRST SECURE THE FOLLOWING
CERTIFICATES FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (NGAs)
CONCERNED:

(1) A certification from the DA indicating:

A. The total area of existing agricultural land in the local. Government unit
(LGU) concerned;

B. That such lands are not included among those classified for conversion
or reclassification under ar 20, series of 1992;

And C. That the land has ceased to be economically feasible for

agricultural purposes;

(2) A certification from the dar that such lands are not distributed or programmed
for distribution to agrarian reform beneficiaries; and

(3) A certification from the department of environment and natural resources

(DENR) indicating that the proposed reclassification is ecologically sound

C. NATIONAL LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Article III. Agricultural lands
Section 13. Conversion of Agricultural lands

All lands considered and identified as prime agricultural lands shall be

maintained, managed and protected for agricultural use and shall not to
subjected to any form of conversion or reclassification.

All other agricultural lands not identifies as prime agricultural lands can only be
converted to non-agricultural uses upon issuance of a DAR conversion order:
Provided, that such conversion shall not drastically change the nature of the
over-all land uses in the surrounding and adjacent areas from its existing land
use.

Provided, That consistent with the State policy on the giving priority to the
completion of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), those
lands covered under compulsory acquisition/voluntary offer to sell, production or
profit-sharing subject to CARP shall also be protected from conversion pending
the distribution and/or installation of the farmer beneficiaries.

Provided, further, That pending the completion of mapping activities of the

specific areas under the NPAAAD and the SAFDZs under the AFMA and their
incorporation in the National Physical Framework Plan (NPFP), the application
of conversion of these areas shall not be given due course by the appropriate
government agency.

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DAR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 01-02

SUBJECT : 2002 Comprehensive Rules On Land Use Conversion

Pursuant to Section 65 and 49 of Republic Act (RA) No. 6657 (Comprehensive

Agrarian Reform Law of 1988), Section 4(j) and 5(l) of Executive Order (EO) No. 129-A
(Reorganization Act of the Department of Agrarian Reform), the pertinent provisions
of RA 8435 (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act), EO-45-2001 [25 October
2001], and in order to provide effective means of evaluating applications for land use
conversion, these Rules are hereby promulgated:
ARTICLE I
Preliminary Provisions
SECTION 1. Statement of Policies. — The conversion of agricultural lands to
non-agricultural uses shall be governed by the following policies:
1.1. The State shall preserve prime agricultural lands to ensure food security.
1.2. The State shall ensure that all sectors of the economy and all regions of the
country are given optimum opportunity to develop, through the rational and sustainable
use of resources peculiar to each area, in order to maximize agricultural productivity, to
promote efficiency and equity, and to accelerate the modernization of the agriculture and
fisheries sectors of the country.
1.3. Conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses shall be strictly regulated
and may be allowed only when the conditions prescribed under RA 6657 and/or RA
8435 are present and complied with.
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — All references in these Rules in the
masculine gender form (he/him/his) shall interchangeably mean the feminine form
(she/her/hers) or may refer to a group (it/it's/their). As used in this AO, the terms
enumerated are defined as follows:
2.1. Agricultural land refers to land devoted to or suitable for the cultivation of the soil;
planting of crops, growing of trees, raising of livestock, poultry, fish or aquaculture
production, including the harvesting of such farm products and other farm activities and
practices performed in conjunction with such farming operations by persons whether
natural or juridical, and not classified by law as mineral land, forest or timber, or national
park, or classified for residential, commercial, industrial or other non-agricultural uses
before 15 June 1988.
2.2. Area Highly Restricted from Conversion refers to agro-industrial cropland, or land
presently planted to industrial crops that support the economic viability of existing
agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises; highland or area located at an
elevation of 500 meters or higher and have the potential for growing semi-temperate
and/or high value crops; land covered by a notice of land valuation and acquisition;
irrigable land not covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitment; and
Environmentally Critical Area and Environmentally Critical Projects as determined by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
2.3. Area Non-Negotiable for Conversion refers to agricultural land not eligible for
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conversion as enumerated in Section 4 hereof.

2.4. Comprehensive Land Use Plan refers to a document accompanied by maps and
similar illustrations, which represent the community-desired pattern of population
distribution and proposal for the future allocation of land for various land use activities. It
identifies the allocation, character and extent of the area's land resources to be used for
different purposes and includes the process and the criteria employed in the
determination of the land's use.
2.5. Conversion Moratorium refers to the policy enunciated in RA 8435 which prohibits
the conversion of irrigated lands, irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with
firm funding commitments, and lands with existing or having the potential for growing high
value crops so delineated and included within the Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries
Development Zones for the period starting 10 February 1998 to 09 February 2003.
2.8. Illegal Conversion is the conversion by any landowner of his agricultural land into
any non-agricultural use with intent to avoid the application of RA 6657 to his landholding
and to dispossess his tenant farmers of the land tilled by them; or the change of nature of
lands outside urban centers and city limits either in whole or in part after the effectivity
of RA 6657, as provided in Section 73 (c) and (e), respectively, of the said Act.
2.11. Land Use refers to the manner of utilization of land, including its allocation,
development and management.
2.12. Land Use Conversion refers to the act or process of changing the current physical
use of a piece of agricultural land into some other use or for another agricultural use other
than the cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of trees, including harvesting of
produce therefrom, as approved by DAR.
2.15. Premature Conversion of Agricultural Land refers to the undertaking of any
development activity, the result of which may modify or alter the physical characteristics
of the agricultural land as would render it suitable for non-agricultural purposes without an
approved Conversion Order from the DAR.
2.16. Prime Agricultural Land refers to land that can be used for various or specific
agricultural activities and can provide optimum and sustainable yield with minimum inputs
and development costs as determined by the DA.
2.17. Private Agricultural Land refers to agricultural land as defined herein and owned by
natural or juridical persons or by the government in its proprietary capacity..
2.19. Reclassification of Agricultural Land refers to the act of specifying how agricultural
lands shall be utilized for non-agricultural uses such as, residential, industrial,
commercial, as embodied in the land use plan, subject to the requirements and procedure
for land use conversion, undertaken by a Local Government Unit (LGU) in accordance
with Section 20 of RA 7160 and Joint Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB),
DAR, DA, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) MC-54-1995. It also
includes the reversion of non-agricultural lands to agricultural use.
2.24. Unauthorized Conversion is the act of changing the current use of the land from
agricultural (e.g. riceland) to another agricultural use, the effect of which is to exclude the
land from CARP coverage (e.g. livestock) without a Conversion Order from the DAR, or
changing the use of the land other than that allowed under the Conversion Order issued
by the DAR.

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ARTICLE II
Coverage
SECTION 3. Applicability of Rules — These guidelines shall apply to all
applications for conversion, from agricultural to non-agricultural uses or to another
agricultural use, such as:
3.1. Conversions into residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and other non-
agricultural purposes;
3.2. Development into other types of agricultural activities such as livestock, poultry,
and fishpond, the effect of which is to exempt the land from CARP coverage;
3.3. Conversions into non-agricultural use other than that previously authorized; or
3.4 Conversion of agricultural lands or areas that have been reclassified by the LGU
or by way of a Presidential Proclamation, to residential, commercial, industrial, or other
non-agricultural uses on or after the effectivity of R.A. 6657 on 15 June 1988, pursuant to
Section 20 of RA 7160, and other pertinent laws and regulations, and are to be converted
to such uses. However, for those reclassified prior to 15 June 1988, the guidelines in
securing an exemption clearance from the DAR shall apply.

SECTION 4. Areas Non-Negotiable for Conversion — An application involving

areas non-negotiable for conversion shall not be given due course even when some
portions thereof are eligible for conversion. The following areas shall not be subject to
conversion:
4.1. Lands within protected areas designated under the NIPAS, including mossy and
virgin forests, riverbanks, and swamp forests or marshlands, as determined by the DENR;
4.2. All irrigated lands, as delineated by the DA and/or the National Irrigation
Administration (NIA), where water is available to support rice and other crop production,
and all irrigated lands where water is not available for rice and other crop production but
are within areas programmed for irrigation facility rehabilitation by the government;
4.3. All irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding
commitments, as delineated by the DA and/or NIA; and
4.4. All agricultural lands with irrigation facilities.

SECTION 5. Areas Highly Restricted from Conversion — The following

areas/projects are classified as highly restricted from conversion:
5.1. Irrigable lands not covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitment;
5.2. Agro-industrial croplands, or lands presently planted to industrial crops that
support the economic viability of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based
enterprises;
5.3. Highlands or areas located in elevations of five hundred (500) meters or above
and which have the potential for growing semi-temperate or high value crops;
5.4. Lands issued with notice of land valuation and acquisition, or subject of a
perfected agreement between the landowner and the beneficiaries under the Voluntary
Land Transfer (VLT)/Direct Payment Scheme (DPS) under the CARP; and

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5.5. Lands within an Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) or those involving the
establishment of an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP). Applications for conversion
under this sub-section shall require, apart from the standard, requirements, an
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) which the applicant must secure from the
DENR prior to application (for ordinary applications) or prior to commencement of actual
land development (for applications involving housing projects).
The Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) Land Use Technical Committee
(PLUTC) shall participate in the deliberations when the application involves land that is
highly restricted from conversion and with an area larger than five (5) hectares, except
housing projects covered by EO-45-2001.

ARTICLE III
Procedures
SECTION 8. Criteria for Conversion. — The following criteria shall guide the
resolution of application for conversion:
8.1. Conversion may be allowed if the land subject of application is not among those
considered non-negotiable for conversion as provided in Section 4 hereof.
8.2. Conversion may be allowed, in accordance with Section 65 of RA 6657, when the
land has ceased to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes or the
locality has become urbanized and the land will have a greater economic value for
residential, commercial, industrial, or other non-agricultural purposes. ICTcDA
8.3. Conversion of lands within SAFDZ, as provided in Rule 9.5.2 of DA-AO-6-1998,
shall take into account the following factors:
8.3.1. The conversion of land use is consistent with the natural expansion of the
municipality or locality, as contained in the approved physical framework and land use
plan.
8.3.2. The area to be converted in use is not the only remaining food production area of
the community.
8.3.3. The land use conversion shall not hamper the availability of irrigation to nearby
farmlands.
8.3.4. The areas with low productivity will be accorded priority for land use conversion.
8.3.5. Sufficient disturbance compensation shall be given to farmers whose livelihood are
negatively affected by the land use conversion as provided for by existing laws and
regulations.
8.4. When the agricultural land which is the subject of the application for conversion
has been acquired under RA 6657, its conversion shall be allowed only if the applicant is
the agrarian reform beneficiary thereof, and after he has fully paid his obligation as
required under Section 65 of RA 6657.
SECTION 9. Who May Apply for Conversion. — The following persons may apply
for conversion:
9.1. Owners of private agricultural lands or other persons duly authorized by the
landowner;
9.2. Beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program after the lapse of five (5) years from

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award, reckoned from the date of the issuance of the Certificate of Landownership Award
(CLOA), and who have fully paid their obligations and are qualified under these Rules, or
persons duly authorized by them; and
9.3. Government agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations,
and LGUs, which own agricultural lands as their patrimonial property.

III. CONVERSION OF LAND TO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE

(sources: Department of Agrarian Reform, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board)

Who May Avail of the Service

1. Owners (natural or juridical person) of private agricultural lands or other persons duly
authorized by the landowner.
2. Beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program after the lapse of five (5) years from
award, reckoned from the date of the issuance of the Certificate of Land Ownership
Award (CLOA), and who have fully paid their obligations and are qualified under the rules,
or persons duly authorized by them.
3. Government agencies, including government - owned and controlled corporation, and
LGUs, which own agricultural lands as their patrimonial property

IV. LAND CONVERSION FACTORS AND REASONS

Land use has seen as a product of interactions between a society’s cultural background,
skill and its physical needs in one hand and the natural potential of land on the other hand
(Ram and Kolakar, 1993).

Land Conversion: Conversion is a normal part of urban development in both developed

and developing world (Riebsame and others, 1996). Conversion means change to land
use from agricultural to non-agricultural or vice versa from non-agriculture to agriculture
purposes. Riebsame, et al, (1992) maintains, “The primary reason for the conversion is
that under urban uses a much higher rent is recovered. The conversion from one land use
to another is the activity most severely affecting terrestrial environments. The nature of
conversion depends on the end use of the land.” Land conversion is a phenomenon that
is almost unavoidable during economic development and population growth periods.

Edrijani (1994) stated,“Land conversion is a process by which land is changed from

agricultural to urban uses. There is a debate on whether agricultural land fringing should
be maintained or converted to other uses. This debate can be shown from both the pro-
ruralist and the pro-urbanist perspectives. The pro-urbanists argue that, “land conversion
is a logical consequence of urban growth. The decline of agricultural production, they
argue, can be solved by intensification and technological production. Hence, land
conversion is not considered as a threat in their view.”

In the last decades due to the rapid urbanization, most of the metropolitan cities of the
developing countries have experienced huge increase in their population size. This trend
has increased demand for land and forcing the cities to extend outward from their original
demarcation. Together with the decentralization of industries, the shift of employment
activities from core to sub-urban areas also has resulted in marked physical expansion of
the major metropolitan cities of developing countries.

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With the growth of a country’s economy, agricultural land is usually transferred to

nonagriculture as the demand for non-farm products and services. This is specially so
when the country’s population and its per capita income rise. Transfer of farm land to non-
agriculture is also needed for expansion of housing facilities in both rural and urban
localities. Such transfer is also evidenced in building infrastructures such as roads,
markets, educational institutions, electricity and industrial establishments,

CAUSES of Land Use Conversion

 Population growth: Population growth is one of the main causes of agricultural land
conversion. Wide employment opportunity, more income and expenditure facilities
attracts people to migrate in the study area which helps the area to get more
population as well as rapid urban expansion indirectly.

 Infrastructural development: Infrastructural development is one of the important

causes closely related to population growth. In the study, emphasis putted on
settlement because settlement is the main infrastructure in the study area which
contributed more to land conversion than others. Due to the population growth, the
infrastructure builds up quickly. To fulfill the demand of extra population, the
settlement area is increasing rapidly.

 Communicative facilities: Communicative facilities are also the causes of

agricultural land conversion; it’s communicative especially road network has been
developed dramatically by including new roads and widening existing roads which
brings huge agricultural land under its networks.

 More profit: The opportunity of getting large scale land in sub-urban area is higher
than the city area. As a result, elite businessmen purchase more land to make more
profit in the near future. On the other hand, migrants from rural area have lasso’s
effort to reside in sub-urban area due to cheaper livelihood expenses.

 Cheap and availability of land: In term of agricultural land use, sub-urban area is
different than City. Being cheaper and availability of agricultural land caused many
respondents to convert their agricultural land to commercial use.

 Others: Beside the above causes, there are a lot of causes of agricultural land
conversion. Among them are income facilities, expenditure facilities, civic facilities,
taxation facilities etc. Moreover, another important cause of agricultural land
conversion is the expansion of the city.

IV. CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH AGRICULTURAL LAND CONVERSION

Depending upon the nature of the initial and final uses of the land (Litman, 2010 b), every
agricultural land has both positive and negative consequences.

 Decreasing agricultural land: The most direct economic consequence of

decreasing agricultural land is the farmer’s loss of profits from agricultural
production. Decreasing agricultural land also results in decreasing support for
agriculture base businesses. These businesses are associated with different
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processing plants those are experiencing a direct loss when agricultural land
declines.

 Changing land value: Land value is increasing gradually especially the value of
closer land to the road side than those far from road side. Commercial land value
is higher compared to the other lands. The increasing of land value is the result
from the potential of its location, together with the development of road networks.

 Occupational changes: In the past, most people were engaged in agriculture

allied occupation. But many had converted their agricultural land to non-agricultural
purposes. As a result, they have changed their occupation especially from farmer
to labor, businessman, driver, official job etc. which brings occupational
diversification as well as the economic change.

 Decreasing food production and rising food price: It is expected that loss of
agricultural land decreases agricultural food production for conversing of
agricultural land various food productions especially food grain production. From
the social point of view, most of the household members, food price is hiking in the
local market.

 Bio-diversity losses: Due to the conversion of agricultural land, farmer cultivating

HYV varieties in order to increase their production. For this, many traditional crops
are almost lost their extinct. Moreover, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and
insecticides etc are using for cultivation which is a cause of extinction of some
environment friendly faunal species.

 Environmental degradation: Due to decreasing agricultural land to fulfill food

demand, the farmers cultivate their land intensively and use chemical fertilizer,
pesticide and other poisoned elements. This is why, water, air, land and other
elements of environment are being polluting day by day. Agricultural chemicals
such as nitrates can threaten living things in farm fields and watercourses and can
enter into drinking water reservoirs. Land are degraded by all of the products said
as well as the environment which degrading day by day.

III. CONCLUSION
Due to uncontrolled population growth and economic development of sub-urban area,
infrastructural land has increasingly expanded which encroached upon agricultural land
more than previous. The food production is decreasing, food price rising and land fertility
decreasing and these all are the result of rapid agricultural land conversion. Infrastructural
development is the main cause of agricultural land conversion.

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References
Deng, J S. Wand, K. Hong, Y. Qi, J.G., 2009, “Spatio-temporal dynamics and evolution of
land use change and landscape pattern in response to rapid urbanization.” Landscape
Urban Plan. 92, pp. 187–198.

Riebsame, W. E. H. Gosnell, and D. M. Theobald., 1996, “Land use and landscape

change in the Colorado mountains, I: theory, scale, and pattern.” Mountain Research and
Development 16 (4): 395-405

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