Agriculture,crops and Irrigation

Agriculture is the predominant sector in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Directly and
Indrectly, it supports about 80% of the population besides contributing nearly 60 % of the stae
revenur, which adequately explains the over dependency of the population on agricuture.

The overall economic grrowth 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.

Agro-Climatic Zone

Jammu and Kashmir is divided into three agro-climatic zones.

1. Humid Sub-tropical Region of Jammu

2. Temperate Kashmir valley

3. 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 Karewas are productive only in the face of sufficient rainfall or
 adequate irrigation facilties. Rice is the chief crop of this zone followed by maize barley
and wheat.

Kashmir region accouted for the 62 % of total cultivable land under rice with the highest
yield of 26.13 q/ha compared to appromaxitely 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 facilties, 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 inhiniting 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 agricultral 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 agriclture in the state.

There are two legislations that restrict the growth of agriculture and horticulture in the
state, viz

(a) Conversion Act, which restricts the cultivator from converting the irrigation land into
orchard and

(b) 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 sonw 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 soild 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 horticuture crops covering a variety of
temperate furits like apple, pear, peach, plum, aprocot, alomonds, cherry and sub-tropical fruits
like mango, guava, litchi etc. Horticuture, emerging as a fast growing sector, contributes about 7
-8 % to the states economy and about 45% to agricutural sector of the state.

Fruits like apples, pears, cherries, plums, grapes, pomegrantes, mulberry, peaches, apricots,
walnuts and alomnds require a cool climate, moderate rainfall and bright sushine. 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 facilitties 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, cauliflowe, 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 horticuture due to growing
demand for flowers in domestic and foreign markets. For the promotion is segment, florculture
nurseries have been developed where ornamental and medicinl plants are produced, besides the
seed multiplication porgrammes 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 tradittional
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 silm, 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 trhe 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 sexction of the population is
dependent on sericulture.

Inadequacy of mulberry leaves and damage caused by insecrts 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
mullberry trees.