The agricultural land is shrinking at a rapid pace across Assam. The reasons: Rampant erosion triggered by the rivers and other factors, and large–scale diversion of agricultural land for non–agricultural purposes. According to records, close to 26,968 bighas of agricultural land was lost due to erosion triggered by the Brahmaputra and other rivers in the State from 2001 to 2012. Close to 16,712 bighas of agricultural land was diverted in the State for non–agricultural purposes from 2006 to the first part of 2013. At a time when the State government is giving stress on the development of agriculture and the double–cropping mission, the shrinking of agricultural land due to erosion and diversion is a testimony to the fact that agricultural development is only taking place on the records and not on the ground. Huge diversion of agricultural land for non–agricultural purposes has taken place in the State’s ten districts – Hailakandi, Dhubri, Cachar, Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Morigaon and Darrang. Sources said that wealthy traders from outside the State buy agricultural land in Assam at a very low price from the farmers and divert the same for non–agricultural purposes with the connivance of a section of government officials. There are also such traders who set up industries on agricultural land even without diverting them, sources added. If such trend continues to take place for long, there will be no more agricultural land left in the State.