Agriculture and Irrigation in Jammu and Kashmir | JKPSC KAS (Jammu and Kashmir): Preparation Course PDF Download

 Page 1


AGRICULTUREAND
IRRIGATIONIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Essentially a mountainous state, Jammu and Kashmir has only
30% of the reporting area under cultivation yet agriculture
supports around 70% of the population. Therefore, the state has
an agrarian economy. The State Government has initiated many
schemes to boost its agricultural economy.
Theclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropicaltotemperatetocoldprovidesa
varietyofcrops,fruits,vegetablesandflowers.However,thecontributionof
agricultureinStateGrossDomesticProductis15.8percent.
Agro-Climatic Zones
Jammu and Kashmir is divided intofour major agro-climatic zones:
1. Low altitude sub-tropical zone (JK-1)
2. Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2)
3. Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3)
4. Cold arid zone (JK-4)
1. Low Altitude Sub-tropical Zone (JK-1)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,hotspellof
summer,relativelydrybutpronouncedwinter.Itcomprises ofwholeJammudistrict
andlowerpartsofKathua,Udhampur,PoonchandRajouridistricts.Maximum
rainfallinthiszoneisreceivedduringJuly-September.Themeanheightabovesea
levelrangesfromlessthan300mto1350m.Hottestmonthsare May,JuneandJuly
andcoldestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.Itssub-zoneisouterhills,
withslightlyhigherelevationthanthesub-tropicalzone.Alluvialsoilisfoundin
thiszone.Maize,wheat,cerealsaregrownhere.
Page 2


AGRICULTUREAND
IRRIGATIONIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Essentially a mountainous state, Jammu and Kashmir has only
30% of the reporting area under cultivation yet agriculture
supports around 70% of the population. Therefore, the state has
an agrarian economy. The State Government has initiated many
schemes to boost its agricultural economy.
Theclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropicaltotemperatetocoldprovidesa
varietyofcrops,fruits,vegetablesandflowers.However,thecontributionof
agricultureinStateGrossDomesticProductis15.8percent.
Agro-Climatic Zones
Jammu and Kashmir is divided intofour major agro-climatic zones:
1. Low altitude sub-tropical zone (JK-1)
2. Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2)
3. Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3)
4. Cold arid zone (JK-4)
1. Low Altitude Sub-tropical Zone (JK-1)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,hotspellof
summer,relativelydrybutpronouncedwinter.Itcomprises ofwholeJammudistrict
andlowerpartsofKathua,Udhampur,PoonchandRajouridistricts.Maximum
rainfallinthiszoneisreceivedduringJuly-September.Themeanheightabovesea
levelrangesfromlessthan300mto1350m.Hottestmonthsare May,JuneandJuly
andcoldestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.Itssub-zoneisouterhills,
withslightlyhigherelevationthanthesub-tropicalzone.Alluvialsoilisfoundin
thiszone.Maize,wheat,cerealsaregrownhere.
2. Mid to High Altitude Intermediate Zone (JK-2)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,relatively
wetter,coldwintersandhighermeanannualrainfall.
Thiszoneissub-tropicaltemperatetransitionandcomprisesofthemidandhigh
altitudeareasofthePanjaltrap.Itincludesalltheareasaboveouterhills,including
thedistrictsofDoda,Poonch,partsofRajouri,Udhampur andKathua.
Thesoilsinthiszoneisscatteredandnotthick.Thiszonereceivesrainfallfrom
South-WestmonsoonmostlyinsummersandNorth-Westdisturbancesinwinters.
Thezonevariesinelevationfrom800to1500minmidaltitude andupto4000min
higheraltitude.RiverChenabanditstributariesconstitutethemajordrainagebasin.
Itssub-zonemarksthelimitbetweenvalleytemperateandcoldaridzone.Wheat
andsugarcanearegrownhere.
3. Mid to High Altitude Temperate Zone (JK-3)
Thiszoneexperienceswetandseverewinterswithfrost,snowandrainandrelatively
dryandwarmsummer.ThiszoneessentiallycoverstheValley ofKashmir
comprisingofthedistrictsAnantnag,Pulwama,Srinagar,Budgam,Baramulla and
Kupwara.
ThesoilsofKashmirValleyarealluvialinnaturewithirrigatedareaofabout62per
cent.Therefore,thiszoneisalsoknownascultivator’sparadise.Thiszonereceives
annualrainfallofaround680mm,ofwhichnearly70percentisreceivedinwinter
andspringseason(fromDecembertoMay).Theoverallaveragetemperaturein
differentmonthsvariesfrom1.2°Cto24.5°C.
Theelevationinvalleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom
2400-3000mand4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeand
sugarcanearegrownhere.Oilseedsarealsogrowninthiszone.Theelevationin
valleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom 2400-3000mand
4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeandsugarcaneare
grownhere.Oilseedsaregrowninthiszone.
4. Cold Arid Zone (JK-4)
ThisregionintheNorthernmosttipofAsiansub-continentbetweenKarakoram
andGreaterHimalayanrangesandisinterwovenwithruggedmountains.Aridzone
comprisesthecoldaridregionofWesternHimalayas,andthe hotaridregionof
Indo-GangeticplainsandpeninsularIndia.ThecoldaridregionofWestern
HimalayasmainlycomprisesLadakh.Cultivationisverylimitedduetoextreme
conditions.Barleyisthemaincropgrownhere.
Page 3


AGRICULTUREAND
IRRIGATIONIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Essentially a mountainous state, Jammu and Kashmir has only
30% of the reporting area under cultivation yet agriculture
supports around 70% of the population. Therefore, the state has
an agrarian economy. The State Government has initiated many
schemes to boost its agricultural economy.
Theclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropicaltotemperatetocoldprovidesa
varietyofcrops,fruits,vegetablesandflowers.However,thecontributionof
agricultureinStateGrossDomesticProductis15.8percent.
Agro-Climatic Zones
Jammu and Kashmir is divided intofour major agro-climatic zones:
1. Low altitude sub-tropical zone (JK-1)
2. Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2)
3. Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3)
4. Cold arid zone (JK-4)
1. Low Altitude Sub-tropical Zone (JK-1)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,hotspellof
summer,relativelydrybutpronouncedwinter.Itcomprises ofwholeJammudistrict
andlowerpartsofKathua,Udhampur,PoonchandRajouridistricts.Maximum
rainfallinthiszoneisreceivedduringJuly-September.Themeanheightabovesea
levelrangesfromlessthan300mto1350m.Hottestmonthsare May,JuneandJuly
andcoldestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.Itssub-zoneisouterhills,
withslightlyhigherelevationthanthesub-tropicalzone.Alluvialsoilisfoundin
thiszone.Maize,wheat,cerealsaregrownhere.
2. Mid to High Altitude Intermediate Zone (JK-2)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,relatively
wetter,coldwintersandhighermeanannualrainfall.
Thiszoneissub-tropicaltemperatetransitionandcomprisesofthemidandhigh
altitudeareasofthePanjaltrap.Itincludesalltheareasaboveouterhills,including
thedistrictsofDoda,Poonch,partsofRajouri,Udhampur andKathua.
Thesoilsinthiszoneisscatteredandnotthick.Thiszonereceivesrainfallfrom
South-WestmonsoonmostlyinsummersandNorth-Westdisturbancesinwinters.
Thezonevariesinelevationfrom800to1500minmidaltitude andupto4000min
higheraltitude.RiverChenabanditstributariesconstitutethemajordrainagebasin.
Itssub-zonemarksthelimitbetweenvalleytemperateandcoldaridzone.Wheat
andsugarcanearegrownhere.
3. Mid to High Altitude Temperate Zone (JK-3)
Thiszoneexperienceswetandseverewinterswithfrost,snowandrainandrelatively
dryandwarmsummer.ThiszoneessentiallycoverstheValley ofKashmir
comprisingofthedistrictsAnantnag,Pulwama,Srinagar,Budgam,Baramulla and
Kupwara.
ThesoilsofKashmirValleyarealluvialinnaturewithirrigatedareaofabout62per
cent.Therefore,thiszoneisalsoknownascultivator’sparadise.Thiszonereceives
annualrainfallofaround680mm,ofwhichnearly70percentisreceivedinwinter
andspringseason(fromDecembertoMay).Theoverallaveragetemperaturein
differentmonthsvariesfrom1.2°Cto24.5°C.
Theelevationinvalleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom
2400-3000mand4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeand
sugarcanearegrownhere.Oilseedsarealsogrowninthiszone.Theelevationin
valleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom 2400-3000mand
4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeandsugarcaneare
grownhere.Oilseedsaregrowninthiszone.
4. Cold Arid Zone (JK-4)
ThisregionintheNorthernmosttipofAsiansub-continentbetweenKarakoram
andGreaterHimalayanrangesandisinterwovenwithruggedmountains.Aridzone
comprisesthecoldaridregionofWesternHimalayas,andthe hotaridregionof
Indo-GangeticplainsandpeninsularIndia.ThecoldaridregionofWestern
HimalayasmainlycomprisesLadakh.Cultivationisverylimitedduetoextreme
conditions.Barleyisthemaincropgrownhere.
Restrictions to the Growth of Agriculture
There are twolegislationsenacted by State Legislation that restrict the growth of
agriculture and horticulture in the state,viz.
(i) ConversionActItrestrictsthecultivatorfromconvertingtheirrigatedlandinto
orchard.
(ii) Kuth Act It restricts the cultivators from growing wild trees having medicinal
value as this hampers the growth of some areas.
Duetotheseacts,theexpansionofagriculturehasnothappened.Beinga
mountainousstate,theagriculturalactivitiesarehighly restrictednaturally.
Cropping Pattern in Jammu and Kashmir
Duetoclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropical totemperatetocold,there
arevariedcroppingpatternsinthethreeregionsofthestate viz.Jammu,Kashmir
andLadakh.
Crops in Jammu Region
TheplainsandhillsinJammuaredominatedbywheat,rice,maize,pulses,fodder
andoilseeds.Kharifcrops aregrowninsummerandharvestedinautumn.They
requiremoretemperatureandrainfall.Rice,maize,jowararekharifcrops.Rabicrops
aregrowninwintersandharvestedinspring.Theyarewheat,barley,oilseeds,peas
andfoddercrops.Zaidcrops aregrownunderartificialirrigationinbetweenrabi
andkharifcrops.TheyarecalledZaidkhariforZaidrabi.Leafyandtuber
vegetablesaregrowninJammu.
Crops in Kashmir Region
TheKashmirValleyiswellknownforfruitssuchasapple,peach,cherryandfor
cropslikerice,maizeandwheatinfewareas.InKashmir,landgenerallyproduces
onecropayear,thereforeitisknownas Ekfasli.Thehighlycultivatedgardenlands
inSrinagarandinsomeothertownsgivemorethanonecropayear.Thereisno
rotationofcropsotherwise.
RiceandmaizearesowninMarch-AprilandharvestedinSeptember-October.Rice
takeslongertimetoripenherethanintheplainsofPunjabandHaryanawhereitis
sowninJuly.WheatandbarleyaresowninOctober-Novemberandharvestedin
June-July.LinseedsarealsoharvestedinJulyandAugust.Cottonpricking
commencesinAugust-September.
Crops in Ladakh Region
InLadakh,likeKashmir,nocustomaryrotationofcropsisfollowed.However,wheat
isnotgrownonthesamelandformorethan2or3consecutiveyears,asitreduces
soilfertility.Wheatisalwaysfollowedbygram,pearormustardseedsforayearas
therootsstrengthenthesoilbybackthesoilnutrients.
Page 4


AGRICULTUREAND
IRRIGATIONIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Essentially a mountainous state, Jammu and Kashmir has only
30% of the reporting area under cultivation yet agriculture
supports around 70% of the population. Therefore, the state has
an agrarian economy. The State Government has initiated many
schemes to boost its agricultural economy.
Theclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropicaltotemperatetocoldprovidesa
varietyofcrops,fruits,vegetablesandflowers.However,thecontributionof
agricultureinStateGrossDomesticProductis15.8percent.
Agro-Climatic Zones
Jammu and Kashmir is divided intofour major agro-climatic zones:
1. Low altitude sub-tropical zone (JK-1)
2. Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2)
3. Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3)
4. Cold arid zone (JK-4)
1. Low Altitude Sub-tropical Zone (JK-1)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,hotspellof
summer,relativelydrybutpronouncedwinter.Itcomprises ofwholeJammudistrict
andlowerpartsofKathua,Udhampur,PoonchandRajouridistricts.Maximum
rainfallinthiszoneisreceivedduringJuly-September.Themeanheightabovesea
levelrangesfromlessthan300mto1350m.Hottestmonthsare May,JuneandJuly
andcoldestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.Itssub-zoneisouterhills,
withslightlyhigherelevationthanthesub-tropicalzone.Alluvialsoilisfoundin
thiszone.Maize,wheat,cerealsaregrownhere.
2. Mid to High Altitude Intermediate Zone (JK-2)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,relatively
wetter,coldwintersandhighermeanannualrainfall.
Thiszoneissub-tropicaltemperatetransitionandcomprisesofthemidandhigh
altitudeareasofthePanjaltrap.Itincludesalltheareasaboveouterhills,including
thedistrictsofDoda,Poonch,partsofRajouri,Udhampur andKathua.
Thesoilsinthiszoneisscatteredandnotthick.Thiszonereceivesrainfallfrom
South-WestmonsoonmostlyinsummersandNorth-Westdisturbancesinwinters.
Thezonevariesinelevationfrom800to1500minmidaltitude andupto4000min
higheraltitude.RiverChenabanditstributariesconstitutethemajordrainagebasin.
Itssub-zonemarksthelimitbetweenvalleytemperateandcoldaridzone.Wheat
andsugarcanearegrownhere.
3. Mid to High Altitude Temperate Zone (JK-3)
Thiszoneexperienceswetandseverewinterswithfrost,snowandrainandrelatively
dryandwarmsummer.ThiszoneessentiallycoverstheValley ofKashmir
comprisingofthedistrictsAnantnag,Pulwama,Srinagar,Budgam,Baramulla and
Kupwara.
ThesoilsofKashmirValleyarealluvialinnaturewithirrigatedareaofabout62per
cent.Therefore,thiszoneisalsoknownascultivator’sparadise.Thiszonereceives
annualrainfallofaround680mm,ofwhichnearly70percentisreceivedinwinter
andspringseason(fromDecembertoMay).Theoverallaveragetemperaturein
differentmonthsvariesfrom1.2°Cto24.5°C.
Theelevationinvalleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom
2400-3000mand4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeand
sugarcanearegrownhere.Oilseedsarealsogrowninthiszone.Theelevationin
valleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom 2400-3000mand
4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeandsugarcaneare
grownhere.Oilseedsaregrowninthiszone.
4. Cold Arid Zone (JK-4)
ThisregionintheNorthernmosttipofAsiansub-continentbetweenKarakoram
andGreaterHimalayanrangesandisinterwovenwithruggedmountains.Aridzone
comprisesthecoldaridregionofWesternHimalayas,andthe hotaridregionof
Indo-GangeticplainsandpeninsularIndia.ThecoldaridregionofWestern
HimalayasmainlycomprisesLadakh.Cultivationisverylimitedduetoextreme
conditions.Barleyisthemaincropgrownhere.
Restrictions to the Growth of Agriculture
There are twolegislationsenacted by State Legislation that restrict the growth of
agriculture and horticulture in the state,viz.
(i) ConversionActItrestrictsthecultivatorfromconvertingtheirrigatedlandinto
orchard.
(ii) Kuth Act It restricts the cultivators from growing wild trees having medicinal
value as this hampers the growth of some areas.
Duetotheseacts,theexpansionofagriculturehasnothappened.Beinga
mountainousstate,theagriculturalactivitiesarehighly restrictednaturally.
Cropping Pattern in Jammu and Kashmir
Duetoclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropical totemperatetocold,there
arevariedcroppingpatternsinthethreeregionsofthestate viz.Jammu,Kashmir
andLadakh.
Crops in Jammu Region
TheplainsandhillsinJammuaredominatedbywheat,rice,maize,pulses,fodder
andoilseeds.Kharifcrops aregrowninsummerandharvestedinautumn.They
requiremoretemperatureandrainfall.Rice,maize,jowararekharifcrops.Rabicrops
aregrowninwintersandharvestedinspring.Theyarewheat,barley,oilseeds,peas
andfoddercrops.Zaidcrops aregrownunderartificialirrigationinbetweenrabi
andkharifcrops.TheyarecalledZaidkhariforZaidrabi.Leafyandtuber
vegetablesaregrowninJammu.
Crops in Kashmir Region
TheKashmirValleyiswellknownforfruitssuchasapple,peach,cherryandfor
cropslikerice,maizeandwheatinfewareas.InKashmir,landgenerallyproduces
onecropayear,thereforeitisknownas Ekfasli.Thehighlycultivatedgardenlands
inSrinagarandinsomeothertownsgivemorethanonecropayear.Thereisno
rotationofcropsotherwise.
RiceandmaizearesowninMarch-AprilandharvestedinSeptember-October.Rice
takeslongertimetoripenherethanintheplainsofPunjabandHaryanawhereitis
sowninJuly.WheatandbarleyaresowninOctober-Novemberandharvestedin
June-July.LinseedsarealsoharvestedinJulyandAugust.Cottonpricking
commencesinAugust-September.
Crops in Ladakh Region
InLadakh,likeKashmir,nocustomaryrotationofcropsisfollowed.However,wheat
isnotgrownonthesamelandformorethan2or3consecutiveyears,asitreduces
soilfertility.Wheatisalwaysfollowedbygram,pearormustardseedsforayearas
therootsstrengthenthesoilbybackthesoilnutrients.
Insomevillages,landcalledDofasli,givestwocropsayear.Thetimeofsowingin
thefrontierdistrictsdiffersfromarea-to-area.Inthelow-lyingareas,wherethe
kharifcropmaizefollowswheat,theformercropissownanytimefrom15th
Novemberto15thJanuary,whenthesoilisnotfrosty.
MaizeissowninJulyandAugust.Inthevillages,wheregramisraisedasrabicrop
insteadofwheat,theformerissownimmediatelyafter15thJanuarytogivethe
cultivatorssufficienttimeforgrowingandharvestingmaizeinthekharif.
Important Crops of Jammu and Kashmir
Rice,wheat,maize,oilseeds,pulses,saffron,barleyareimportantcropsofthestate.
They are explained asfollows:
Rice
RiceisthestaplefoodoftheKashmiris.Itisakharifcropandissownin
March-Aprilandharvestedinautumn.Cultivationofricerequireshotandmoist
climate.ItisgrownmostlyintheValleyofKashmirat2100mabovesealevel.The
KashmirValleyiscalledRiceBowl ofthestate.
IntheplainareasofJammuregion,riceissowninJune-Julyandharvestedin
autumn.ThetehsilofRanbirSinghPoraofJammuisfamousfor basmatiriceandis
alsoexported.Anantnag,Baramulla,Kupwara,Srinagar,PulwamaandKathuaare
themajorriceproducingdistricts.
Wheat
ItisakharifcropinLadakhregionandarabicropinJammuand Kashmirregion.
Wheatrequiresacoolandsomewhatmoistclimateinthebeginningandwarmand
dryweatheratharvesttime.ItissowninAugustandharvestedinMarch-April.The
averagerainfallshouldbe50to70cmatregularintervals.
Itiscultivatedintheentireouterplainsandouterhills.Importantwheatproducing
areasareKathua,Kabirsingpora,SambaandReasi.InKashmir,itisgrownlikegrass.
Maize
Itisanimportantcropofthestateandcoversaround30percentofthecropped
area.ItissowninMay-JulyandharvestedinAugust-November.Itrequireshotdry
climate.Rainfallrequiredformaizevariesfrom75cmto125 cm.
ItiscultivatedonKarewalands(elevatedlandswhichareflatfromtop)intheValley
ofKashmir.TheleadingproducersareRajouri,Doda,Poonch,Kupwara,Baramulla
andAnantnag.
Page 5


AGRICULTUREAND
IRRIGATIONIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Essentially a mountainous state, Jammu and Kashmir has only
30% of the reporting area under cultivation yet agriculture
supports around 70% of the population. Therefore, the state has
an agrarian economy. The State Government has initiated many
schemes to boost its agricultural economy.
Theclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropicaltotemperatetocoldprovidesa
varietyofcrops,fruits,vegetablesandflowers.However,thecontributionof
agricultureinStateGrossDomesticProductis15.8percent.
Agro-Climatic Zones
Jammu and Kashmir is divided intofour major agro-climatic zones:
1. Low altitude sub-tropical zone (JK-1)
2. Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2)
3. Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3)
4. Cold arid zone (JK-4)
1. Low Altitude Sub-tropical Zone (JK-1)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,hotspellof
summer,relativelydrybutpronouncedwinter.Itcomprises ofwholeJammudistrict
andlowerpartsofKathua,Udhampur,PoonchandRajouridistricts.Maximum
rainfallinthiszoneisreceivedduringJuly-September.Themeanheightabovesea
levelrangesfromlessthan300mto1350m.Hottestmonthsare May,JuneandJuly
andcoldestmonthsareDecember,JanuaryandFebruary.Itssub-zoneisouterhills,
withslightlyhigherelevationthanthesub-tropicalzone.Alluvialsoilisfoundin
thiszone.Maize,wheat,cerealsaregrownhere.
2. Mid to High Altitude Intermediate Zone (JK-2)
Thiszoneischaracterisedbymonsoon,concentrationofprecipitation,relatively
wetter,coldwintersandhighermeanannualrainfall.
Thiszoneissub-tropicaltemperatetransitionandcomprisesofthemidandhigh
altitudeareasofthePanjaltrap.Itincludesalltheareasaboveouterhills,including
thedistrictsofDoda,Poonch,partsofRajouri,Udhampur andKathua.
Thesoilsinthiszoneisscatteredandnotthick.Thiszonereceivesrainfallfrom
South-WestmonsoonmostlyinsummersandNorth-Westdisturbancesinwinters.
Thezonevariesinelevationfrom800to1500minmidaltitude andupto4000min
higheraltitude.RiverChenabanditstributariesconstitutethemajordrainagebasin.
Itssub-zonemarksthelimitbetweenvalleytemperateandcoldaridzone.Wheat
andsugarcanearegrownhere.
3. Mid to High Altitude Temperate Zone (JK-3)
Thiszoneexperienceswetandseverewinterswithfrost,snowandrainandrelatively
dryandwarmsummer.ThiszoneessentiallycoverstheValley ofKashmir
comprisingofthedistrictsAnantnag,Pulwama,Srinagar,Budgam,Baramulla and
Kupwara.
ThesoilsofKashmirValleyarealluvialinnaturewithirrigatedareaofabout62per
cent.Therefore,thiszoneisalsoknownascultivator’sparadise.Thiszonereceives
annualrainfallofaround680mm,ofwhichnearly70percentisreceivedinwinter
andspringseason(fromDecembertoMay).Theoverallaveragetemperaturein
differentmonthsvariesfrom1.2°Cto24.5°C.
Theelevationinvalleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom
2400-3000mand4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeand
sugarcanearegrownhere.Oilseedsarealsogrowninthiszone.Theelevationin
valleysvariesfrom1560to1950m.Inmidbeltsitrangesfrom 2400-3000mand
4200minsnowboundareas.Ricefollowedbywheat,maizeandsugarcaneare
grownhere.Oilseedsaregrowninthiszone.
4. Cold Arid Zone (JK-4)
ThisregionintheNorthernmosttipofAsiansub-continentbetweenKarakoram
andGreaterHimalayanrangesandisinterwovenwithruggedmountains.Aridzone
comprisesthecoldaridregionofWesternHimalayas,andthe hotaridregionof
Indo-GangeticplainsandpeninsularIndia.ThecoldaridregionofWestern
HimalayasmainlycomprisesLadakh.Cultivationisverylimitedduetoextreme
conditions.Barleyisthemaincropgrownhere.
Restrictions to the Growth of Agriculture
There are twolegislationsenacted by State Legislation that restrict the growth of
agriculture and horticulture in the state,viz.
(i) ConversionActItrestrictsthecultivatorfromconvertingtheirrigatedlandinto
orchard.
(ii) Kuth Act It restricts the cultivators from growing wild trees having medicinal
value as this hampers the growth of some areas.
Duetotheseacts,theexpansionofagriculturehasnothappened.Beinga
mountainousstate,theagriculturalactivitiesarehighly restrictednaturally.
Cropping Pattern in Jammu and Kashmir
Duetoclimaticdiversityofthestatefromsub-tropical totemperatetocold,there
arevariedcroppingpatternsinthethreeregionsofthestate viz.Jammu,Kashmir
andLadakh.
Crops in Jammu Region
TheplainsandhillsinJammuaredominatedbywheat,rice,maize,pulses,fodder
andoilseeds.Kharifcrops aregrowninsummerandharvestedinautumn.They
requiremoretemperatureandrainfall.Rice,maize,jowararekharifcrops.Rabicrops
aregrowninwintersandharvestedinspring.Theyarewheat,barley,oilseeds,peas
andfoddercrops.Zaidcrops aregrownunderartificialirrigationinbetweenrabi
andkharifcrops.TheyarecalledZaidkhariforZaidrabi.Leafyandtuber
vegetablesaregrowninJammu.
Crops in Kashmir Region
TheKashmirValleyiswellknownforfruitssuchasapple,peach,cherryandfor
cropslikerice,maizeandwheatinfewareas.InKashmir,landgenerallyproduces
onecropayear,thereforeitisknownas Ekfasli.Thehighlycultivatedgardenlands
inSrinagarandinsomeothertownsgivemorethanonecropayear.Thereisno
rotationofcropsotherwise.
RiceandmaizearesowninMarch-AprilandharvestedinSeptember-October.Rice
takeslongertimetoripenherethanintheplainsofPunjabandHaryanawhereitis
sowninJuly.WheatandbarleyaresowninOctober-Novemberandharvestedin
June-July.LinseedsarealsoharvestedinJulyandAugust.Cottonpricking
commencesinAugust-September.
Crops in Ladakh Region
InLadakh,likeKashmir,nocustomaryrotationofcropsisfollowed.However,wheat
isnotgrownonthesamelandformorethan2or3consecutiveyears,asitreduces
soilfertility.Wheatisalwaysfollowedbygram,pearormustardseedsforayearas
therootsstrengthenthesoilbybackthesoilnutrients.
Insomevillages,landcalledDofasli,givestwocropsayear.Thetimeofsowingin
thefrontierdistrictsdiffersfromarea-to-area.Inthelow-lyingareas,wherethe
kharifcropmaizefollowswheat,theformercropissownanytimefrom15th
Novemberto15thJanuary,whenthesoilisnotfrosty.
MaizeissowninJulyandAugust.Inthevillages,wheregramisraisedasrabicrop
insteadofwheat,theformerissownimmediatelyafter15thJanuarytogivethe
cultivatorssufficienttimeforgrowingandharvestingmaizeinthekharif.
Important Crops of Jammu and Kashmir
Rice,wheat,maize,oilseeds,pulses,saffron,barleyareimportantcropsofthestate.
They are explained asfollows:
Rice
RiceisthestaplefoodoftheKashmiris.Itisakharifcropandissownin
March-Aprilandharvestedinautumn.Cultivationofricerequireshotandmoist
climate.ItisgrownmostlyintheValleyofKashmirat2100mabovesealevel.The
KashmirValleyiscalledRiceBowl ofthestate.
IntheplainareasofJammuregion,riceissowninJune-Julyandharvestedin
autumn.ThetehsilofRanbirSinghPoraofJammuisfamousfor basmatiriceandis
alsoexported.Anantnag,Baramulla,Kupwara,Srinagar,PulwamaandKathuaare
themajorriceproducingdistricts.
Wheat
ItisakharifcropinLadakhregionandarabicropinJammuand Kashmirregion.
Wheatrequiresacoolandsomewhatmoistclimateinthebeginningandwarmand
dryweatheratharvesttime.ItissowninAugustandharvestedinMarch-April.The
averagerainfallshouldbe50to70cmatregularintervals.
Itiscultivatedintheentireouterplainsandouterhills.Importantwheatproducing
areasareKathua,Kabirsingpora,SambaandReasi.InKashmir,itisgrownlikegrass.
Maize
Itisanimportantcropofthestateandcoversaround30percentofthecropped
area.ItissowninMay-JulyandharvestedinAugust-November.Itrequireshotdry
climate.Rainfallrequiredformaizevariesfrom75cmto125 cm.
ItiscultivatedonKarewalands(elevatedlandswhichareflatfromtop)intheValley
ofKashmir.TheleadingproducersareRajouri,Doda,Poonch,Kupwara,Baramulla
andAnantnag.
Saffron
Itisanimportantcashcropofthestate.Thestateisthelargestproducerofsaffron.
Outof 5700hectares(approx)ofcultivatedareaforsaffroninIndia,4490hectares
(approx)lieinJammuandKashmir.Moderateweatherconditionsi.e.neithertoohot
nortoocoldisneededforit.Itrequires75-120cmofrainfall.SowingisdoneinJune
andharvestinginNovember.Thecropisexpensivetogrowandrequireslotof
manuallaboursincethethreadsofaflower(itsstigma andstyles)havetobe
collected.ItisgrowninthePulwamadistrictwheresaffroncultivationistheprimary
occupation.Pamporetown,15kmfromSrinagarisworldfamousforproducinghigh
gradesaffron.Around2128kgofsaffronisgrownannuallyinthestate.
Oilseed
Itrequireshotandmoistclimate.ItisgrownalloverKashmir region.Theyare
grownasarabicrop,sowninNovemberandharvestedinJune.Itrequires70cmof
rainfall.ThemajoroilseedproducingareasareAnantnagandSrinagar.
Pulses
Hotanddryclimateofthestateissuitablefortheircultivation.Theyarelargely
grownonsmallpatchesoflandandthepulsesofKashmirValleyarewellknownfor
theirquality.Itisalsogrownasarabicrop.InJammuitisaminorkharifcrop.
Barley
ItisthestaplecropinLadakh.Itisgrowninsummermonthsalongwithmillets,
peasandmustard.Itrequiresverylittlerainfallaround30-60cmandripensina
spanof4months.
Maize
Rice
Wheat
Sugarcane
OilSeeds
PUNJAB
HIMACHAL
PRADESH
CHINA
CROPS
TAJIKISTAN
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
AGRICULTUREIN
JAMMUANDKASHMIR
Kargil
Leh
Kupwara
Kishtwar
Srinagar
Kulgam
Baramulla
? AGRICULTUREMAPOFJAMMUANDKASHMIR