@Rafiq Bashir, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar
Agriculture to me is the cultivation of land either traditionally or with the use of modern technologies. In other words, the practice of cultivating the soil in order to produce crops and domestication of animals and pastoral farming are known as agriculture. The agricultural processes of a region are directly controlled by the prevailing physical environmental condition (temperature, precipitation, terrain, soil etc.) and the socio-cultural milieu (land tenancy, size of holding, technology, workforce, family requirements, irrigation, power, roads, marketing, aspirations of the growers, etc.).
I write this article to give you a concise account of the general land-use, cropping pattern, crops concentration, crops combinations and the agricultural operations being carried out in the different agro-climatic regions of the Jammu and Kashmir UT. Jammu and Kashmir is essentially a mountainous UT in which only about 30 per cent of the reporting area is under cultivation. Agriculture is the mainstay of the people as it provides employment, directly or indirectly to about 70 per cent of the workforce. It contributes about 65 per cent of the state revenue which explains the overdependence of the state on agriculture. Land is, however, limited and therefore, its judicious utilization is necessary to meet the growing need of the tremendously increasing population and for the sustainability of soils, ecosystems and environment. It is a broad term and contains many fields within viz. Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Sericulture. Someone has rightly said that agriculture is the mother of all cultures. Without agriculture, achievement of good economic growth is almost impossible. It is backbone of secondary and tertiary sector’s of economy. Since 1960s contribution of agriculture towards state Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) is decreasing, which in my opinion is not a good sign. In 1966 there was an tremendous increase in the production of cereals mainly Rice and Wheat. It was possible due to Green Revolution and it was possible due to contribution of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. Due to Increasing population and limited land availability, there is an need of Evergreen Revolution. Agriculture is providing vast employment opportunities and research confirmed that around 55% population is dependent upon agriculture. It is the backbone of Country’s as well as Jammu and Kashmir economy. At present contribution of agriculture towards national GDP and state GDP is around 17% and 16.05% respectively. We cannot live without food and it is the agriculture which provides us food to eat and live. The goods produced from agriculture practices are acting as raw materials for industries. So industries are almost dependent upon agriculture and so jobs of people working in industries. Some of the major crops and products produced from agricultural practices are rice, maize, wheat, pulses, cotton, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, vegetables, fruits and many more.
Our UT produces a good quality of saffron which is famous throughout the world. Saffron is mostly produced in karewas of Pampore and it has been recently awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag with number 635. So, in Jammu and Kashmir agriculture has got tremendous opportunities for good economic growth. The present situation is very bad and people are moving to other professions. The land conversion practices are common and agricultural land is reducing day by day. The agriculture in J &K is loosing potential and this reduces contribution of agriculture towards state GDP year after year. My point at last is that people must involve themselves in agricultural practices to sustain family as well as state needs. Land conversion practices must be avoided and laws must be framed.
Name Rafiq Ahmad Mengnoo
Residence Vatterhall Kokernag
Qualification: M.Sc. Genetics and Plant Breeding, SKUAST-KASHMIR,
Email id: arrbee7298@gmail.com