Eco-friendly farming in J&K

Dr. Banarsi Lal, Dr. Pawan Sharma
Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of J&K. Thus, it is imperative to look at the farm sector as a key booster which lays the roadmap on removal of various natural and even man-made impediments like the cycle of violence from which the especially rural people suffer. Agriculture, in fact, has been playing a pivotal role for the overall development of J&K state.  J&K is one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the country. The state has its own cultures and ways of farming. The people of the state have always marveled at the diversity of cultures and multiple civilizations. This is the strength of J&K state. It is wrong to visualize a uniform pattern of farming in the whole state of J&K. Each community is skilled to utilize local people’s farming potentials and the natural resources in a cost effective manner. Each tribal and ethnic community has their unique traditional methodologies of water preservation and farming. The success story of organic farming in Reasi district of J&K is a story by itself and on merits. There are various other well known and vital salient features about farming in J&K. Due to increasing requirement for cultivation of land, there is resilience of ecosystem and this leaves far reaching impact on the ecology. From ecological point of view again, the J&K falls within the sub tropical belt of Jammu region to temperate belt in Kashmir region. However, despite immense potentials and innovations involved in agriculture, the agro-economy has not seen the north bound graph as visualized in many quarters. For many reasons, the agriculture sector remains capital starved in J&K state. In a broad sense, J&K needs adequate attention to ensure setting up of cold storage facilities, warehouses, marketing channels and also to stimulate new employment opportunities. Of course in recent years the agricultural sector in the region has come into focus and a series of new and innovative steps have been taken for commercial agriculture. There are certain existing hurdles in the certain areas of agriculture in the state.  Notwithstanding its predominance in the economy of J&K, the agricultural sector has remained slow in the region in terms of yielding crops results and in stimulating the economy.
Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous state and is located between 32.17 and 37.06 North latitude and 73.2 and 80.36 East longitude in the Himalayan region. The agro-diversity of the state varies from sub-tropical in Jammu region, temperate in Kashmir region and cold arid in Ladakh region. The average annual rainfall of these three regions is 1069mm, 660mm and 80-90mm respectively. The average temperatures of these three regions are 24.5, 13.3 & 5.3 Centigrade respectively. There is dire need to increase the income and employment in agriculture and allied sectors for the farmers in the state. This is possible to increase the production and productivity of the crops and to enable the farmers to adopt the scientific agricultural technologies. There is need to promote the scientific agriculture and move towards commercial agriculture. The state is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, climatic condition, diversity, topography, rich natural flora etc. which are conducive for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. It is a matter of grave concern that the interest of younger generation in the state is declining towards agriculture. Most of the area in the state is under agriculture is rainfed. Maize is at first rank crop in the state occupying one-third of the total cropped area, rice at number second in 28.58 per cent area of gross cropped area and wheat at number three which covers around 26 per cent of the total cropped area.
Over 75 per cent of people in the state live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture as a source of livelihood. But the percentage of net cultivated area of the state is around 30 per cent as against 45 per cent of the total area in the rest of India. J&K is lagging far behind other parts of the country in terms of production and productivity of various crops. Thus, the state has to depend on other states of the country for food grain requirements and to make up the shortage of other farm commodities including vegetables. At the same time, it should be noted that the region has immense potential for horticulture and other farm products. J&K state accounts for fair share of India’s production of apples, walnut, almond and basmati rice. The state has immense potential of pecan nuts and fruits like Kiwi while ginger, turmeric, chilly and bamboo related products thrive in certain parts of the state. State also has immense potential of olive and saffron. Thus, notwithstanding hurdles and limitations, the overall farm scene viz. agri and horticulture depicts a story of success along with the promises to march towards greater glories. Agriculture provides the main source of income in the state. Engaging people in agriculture has been prominent agenda of the Government recently as there is growing concern across the nation that rural people specially the rural youths have become disenchanted with agriculture.
J&K people are basically village based masses. Thus, farming has always an emotional attachment with the rural people of the state. It has been observed that those cherishing white collared jobs in service, industry and government sectors have also shown inclination towards agriculture. In terms of tangible results, the state has immense potential in organic farming. As Sikkim has been declared as an organic state in the country, J&K too can be converted as an organic state as most of the farmers of the state especially in hilly areas hardly apply the agro- chemicals in their crops. Organic farming will help to maintain the soil health and the programme is likely to boost the rural tourism industry in the state. The water from the rivers in the state can be diverted towards crops fields. The water carries with it the dung and urine of the animals to the fields can help in providing good source of nutrition for the crops. In this backdrop, it will be relevant to examine how agriculture has been able to bring out multi-phased transitions in the region. This includes – (i) Removal of unemployment and particularly, under employment from the state; b) Ensure enough economic support to mitigate basic needs like drinking water, rural roads, elementary education, health care and housing for landless people(c) Boosting nutrition for the crops, (d) Significant reduction in disparities of income and wealth, (e) Achieve higher growth rate and ensure continued progress in the state.
It is well known fact that the future and prosperity of people of any place is rooted in its soil. Agriculture truly gives that opportunity to tap the potential in J&K. People in J&K also believe that it was creativity at its best when Earth was addressed as the Mother and the earth surface was compared to the lap of motherhood. People in J&K state are the masters of agriculture and know how to take care of mother and seek all her blessings. They also know to maintain a balance between environment and development. People’s involvement and proper use of natural resources can bring sustainability in agriculture and with sustainability progress can be done.
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