Agriculture,crops and Irrigation
Agriculture is the predominant sector in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Directly and Indirectly, it supports about 80% of the population besides contributing nearly 60 % of the stae revenue, which adequately explains the over dependency of the population on agriculture.
The overall economic growth of the state depends largely on the progress of the agricultural sector, the development of which becomes even more important in the context of the very nominal progress, it has made in the secondary sectors. With the introduction of planned development in the state during 1951-56, production of foodgraing and fruits has increased considerably.
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Agro-Climatic Zone
Jammu and Kashmir is divided into three agro-climatic zones.
Humid Sub-tropical Region of Jammu
Temperate Kashmir valley
Cold Arid Desert Areas of Ladakh
Each has its own geo-climatic conditon that determines the cropping pattern and productivity profile.
Humid Sub-Tropical Region of Jammu
In Jammu province, a small portion of the land lies in the plains along the borders of Punhab while the rest of the area is hilly. Jammu region dominates both in maize and wheat production. Above 67 percent of the area is under maize and wheat production with the production of 21.25 q/ha maize and 15.36 q/ha wheat .
This region contributes 79.65 percent and 95.69 percent of total production of these two cerals respectively. Even though the yield is not high, the region makes appreciable contribution to the production of grups of cerals classified as other cerals and millets.
Temperate Kashmir Valley.
The agro-climatic zone of Kashmir is also known as cultivator’s Paradise. The region practically depends on irrigation which is easily available. A large area of level land has alluvial soil. Extensive elevated plateaus of the alluvial or lacustrine material locally called Karewas, also exist in the Kashmir valley. These Karewas, also exist in the Kashmir valley. These Karwas are productive only in the face of sufficient rainfall or adequate irrigation facilities. Rice is the chief crop of this zone followed by maize barley and wheat.
Kashmir region accounted for the 62 % of total cultivable land under rice with the highest yield of 26.13 q/ha compared to approximately 15.96 q/ha in Jammu region. By and large, the soils are well suited to rice cultivation and 90 % of the area under rice is irrigated. This region alone contributes more than 74% of total rice produced in the state.
Cold Arid Desert Areas of Ladakh
Ladakh Zone is endowed with bare rocky mountains and bare gravel slopes. Villages are located near pockets of land with level ground and irrigation facilities, where cultivation is viable. In tis region, barley is the major ceral crop followed by summer wheat. Millets and wheat rank second in importance and are grown in the warmer belt of the region.
The physical and climatic conditions act as inhibiting factors in some parts of the state. Further, the extremely smll size of holding (average is 0.73 hectare) and absence of further scope for extension of cultivation makes it imperative to put agricultural land to optimum use, so that the limited land yields the maximum. This could be possible through the judicious application of modern technology adopted to local conditions.
The disadvantage of Limited land could be partially overcome through increasing the area under double cropping and by introducing a short duration rabi crop in the valley, which has so far been growing only one crop a year. It is essential to exploit the potential of irrigation in the state. In the mean time, other schemes consisting of new khuls, wells, pumping sets and renovation and repair of zamindari khuls should b given due attention.
Apart from this, the State Legislation for agriculture has also contributed to the slow growth of agriculture in the state.
There are two legislations that restrict the growth of agriculture and horticulture in the state, viz
Conversion Act, which restricts the cultivator from converting the irrigation land into orchard and
Kuth Act, which restricts the cultivators from growing wild trees having medicinal value as this hampers the growth of some areas. Once these aspects are taken care of, a major break through could come through the adaptation of modern technology in the form of high yielding varieties and large input of fertilizers.
Main Crops
Rice: Cultivation of rice requires hot and moist climate. It is a kharif crop and is snow in March-April and harvested in autumn. Sufficient water must cover the fields. It is grown mostly in the Valley of kashmir at 2100 m above sea level. Total area under rice cultivation in the Valley of Kashmir is 374000 acre having a yield of 25.5 quintal per acre.
Wheat : It is rabi and its plant requires a cool and somewhat moist climate in the beginning and warm and dry weather at harvest time. The average rainfall should be between 50 to 70 cm and that too at regular intervals. It is sown in August and harvested in March-April. It is cultivated in the entire outer plain and outer hills. Important wheat producing areas arre Kathua, Kabirsingpura, Samba and Reasi. In Kashmir, it is grown like grass. Total area under wheat cultivation in Jammu region is 31000 acre in Kashmir 78000 acre and in Ladakh 7000 acre.
Maize: It requires hot dry climate. Rainfall required for maize varies from 75 cm to 125 m. It is sown in May-July and harvested in August-November. It is cultivated on Karewa lands in the Valley of Kashmir on about 303000 acre.
Tobacco: It required a war, and moist climate and a rich solid containing lime. It is largely grown in the Valley of Kashmir as the soil is suitable for tobacco.
Oil seed: They require hot and moist climate. They are grown all over Kashmir province, but the chief oil seed producing areas are Anantnag and Srinagar. 67000 acre area In Kashmir region produces oil seeds.
Pulses: Hot and dry climate of the state is suitable for their cultivation. They arre largely grown on small patches of land and the pulses of Kashmir valley are well known for their quality.
Saffron: This is a cash crop and cultivated in the Pampore in the month of July-August. About 3000 acre are under saffron cultivation in Pampore.
Horticulture
“Jammu and Kashmir” is famous for its horticulture produce both in India and aborad.The state offers good scope for cultivation of all types of horticulture crops covering a variety of temperate fruits like apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, almonds, cherry and sub-tropical fruits like mango, guava, litchi etc. Horticulture, emerging as a fast growing sector, contributes about 7-8 % to the states economy and about 45% to agricultural sector of the state.
Fruits like apples, pears, cherries, plums, grapes, pomegranate, mulberry, peaches, apricots, walnuts and almonds require a cool climate, moderate rainfall and bright sunshine. The climate of Kashmir suits for their cultivation. They are, as such, mostly grown in the valley.
Fruit cultivation has been known in Kashmir, since very early times. In recent years, fruit cultivation has been extended with readily available facilities of better seed, nursery culture, insecticide and very cheap and better transport facilities for their export. Fruit cultivation at present, is an important source of wealth to the state.
Fruit Production
The Valley of Kashmir is also known for the high production of potato, turnip, carrot, spinach, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, onion, lotus-stalk, brinjal, groundnut and bitter gourd etc.
As per the report of Horticulture Department, 3.06 lakh hectare area was under horticulture, during the year 2008-09 showing an increase of 3.73 % over the previous year. The largest area was under apply (43.30%) followed by walnut (27.80 %). The production of fruit for the year 2008-09 ( 16.91 lakh tonnes) registered an increase of 3.36 % over the previous year. Among the fruits, the largest production was of apple (81.18) followed by walnut (8.97%)
Floriculture
Floriculture sector has become the most focused segment of horticulture due to growing demand for flowers in domestic and foreign markets. For the promotion is segment, floriculture nurseries have been developed where ornamental and medicinal plants are produced, besides the seed multiplication programmes of flowers seeds. Directorate of floriculture produces more than 40 lakh seedling fo different kinds of flowers and ornamental plants.
One of the landmark achievement of Floriculture Department has been the establishment of Tulip GArden, first of its kind of Siraj Bagh, Srinagar. It is the largest Tulip Garden of Asia situated at the foothills of Zabarwan mountains. The garden witness highest inflow of tourists which includes film making companies for shootings.
Sericulture
Sericulture is one of the traditional occupations of Jammu and kashmir. It is only traditional univoltine belt in India, capable of producing silk comparable of the fine qualities of raw silk imported in the international market. Kashmir introduced far better film, both in quality and quantity than Japan and Italy, 60 years ago.
The climate of Kashmir is temperate and congenial for rearing both univoltine and bivoltine silk worm species for cocoon production. These cocoons are far superior to the multivoltine ones produced in the rest of the country. It is disheartening that the silk industry of Jammu and Kashmir which has seen a glorious past, is on decline, still a large section of the population is dependent on sericulture.
Inadequacy of mulberry leaves and damage caused by insects and pests are the major problem in the development and expansion of mulberry trees. The Sericulture Development Department is laying stress on raising dwarf mulberry trees to supplement and replenish the traditional tall mulberry trees.
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