The recent announcement by the Jammu and Kashmir Government that agriculture and allied sectors account for over 78% of the territory GDP and sustain the livelihoods of over 13 lakh families highlights the critical importance of agriculture in the social and economic structure of the region.
This agriculture sector in J&K is another important call for policymakers to give deliberate thought to true sustainable development, modernization, and institutionalization of a strong support systems for farmers.
This is a traditional place, agriculture has been the life and blood of Jammu and Kashmir, especially with its fertile lands, varied climates, and rich and very varied traditions of horticulture particularly apples and saffron.
This significant contribution to GDP, is a validation of its irreplaceable role especially in rural areas with minor employment opportunities. Lakhs of peoples depend on agriculture for their survival, so any disturbance- whether climate change, market fluctuation, or the neglect of a supportive policy- can create disastrous genius.
Despite all of the factors that calls inauguration agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir, the face has many negative phenomena that includes stochastic weather, unseasonal rainfall, and rising temperatures that threatens to impair crop production.
The majority of cultivators are still reliant on traditional means of producing, because they lack access to the right technology, irrigation facilities, good seeds.
There should be more cold storage facilities as well as food processing units and farmer to consumer platforms for fair prices.
Crop insurance, drought resistance seeds, sustainable farming practices should all be in place. Training in new farming techniques to good access to credit would be extremely helpful and very productive to the allied sectors providing aid to the small and marginal farmer.
By empowering farmers through technology and by creating policy certainty not only can J&K secure the future economy but also the future of millions who live off the land for their livelihoods.
