Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 30: Kashmir’s oil seed cultivation has increased from 30,000 to 1.4 lakh hectares per year over the last two years, providing much-needed relief to farmers who previously struggled to make a profit during the lean Rabi season.
Officials at the Department of Agriculture have attributed this success to a comprehensive plan to cultivate previously empty land during the Rabi season, which was supported by both the Central and UT Governments.
This mission has covered its basic objective, reducing Kashmir’s dependence on other states from 99% to around 70%. “The productive soils should not remain uncultivated in Kashmir. The Department of Agriculture has made a comprehensive plan regarding which crop would be suitable during Rabi and how to increase productivity,” Director of Agriculture, Choudary Iqbal, told Excelsior.
Choudary said that mustard was cultivated on approximately 30,000 hectares of land two years ago, which has since increased to 1.4 lakh hectares due to the efforts of the Central and UT Governments.
“With more than 1.40 lakh hectares covered this year, farmers are set to benefit as Kashmir’s productivity is double the national average of 10 quintals per hectare of oil, thanks to favourable climatic conditions. Many traders from outside have taken seed from the progressive farmers of Pulwama at Rs 900 per kilogram,” Iqbal said.
The sight of beautiful yellow mustard fields has also attracted tourists, boosting the tourist industry. “The whole Valley is now covered in yellow flowers of mustard, and tourists stop along the highway to behold the sight,” he added.
Farmers expressed their gratitude to the government for its efforts to increase mustard cultivation. However, they also demanded more seeds be provided in order to achieve better results.
“Our father used to do this cultivation, but we left it due to our lackadaisical approach. With rates of essentials skyrocketing, we understand that we should go back to our fields. The government also gave us seeds which proved helpful. Now we request the government to provide us more seeds so that we can use the oil ourselves and give it to others as well,” a farmer from Pulwama said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel