Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s food production is expected to increase by 11 percent in the next five years, according to the Economic Survey report.
“The total food production is expected to increase from 16699 (Th. Qtls) to 18681 (Th. Qtls) thereby registering an increase of 11.87% over the next five years,” reads the report.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ranks 5th in average monthly income per agriculture house and a holistic Agriculture Development Plan has been developed that comprises 29 Projects for its implementation in the next 5 years. This has been revealed by the latest Economic Survey Report (2022-2023) compiled by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics Planning Development & Monitoring Department, J&K.
The economy of the UT of J&K is predominately agriculture dependent and nearly 70% of population is directly or indirectly engaged in agricultural and allied occupations which is based on Small Land Holdings.
In spite of rapid urbanisation, nearly 70 per cent population’s livelihood is dependent on agriculture and it is the key to removing developmental imbalances between urban and rural areas. To some extent, this goal has been realised.
“As per the latest Situation Assessment Survey of Agriculture Households conducted by National Statistics Office (NSO), J&K ranks 5th in average monthly income per agriculture household (Rs 18918) after Meghalaya (Rs 29348), Punjab (Rs 26701), Haryana (Rs 22,841) and Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 19225),” it said.
The report says that the UT is progressing towards self-reliance in vegetables and their export to other neighbouring states/UTs as the production is expected to increase from 19.90 lakh MT to 25.87 lakh MT over the next five years. “The total food production is expected to increase from 16699 (Th. Qtls) to 18681 (Th. Qtls) thereby registering an increase of 11.87% over the next five years.”
The Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, survey says, is discharging the responsibility of promoting all agriculture activities in the UT for the benefit of the farming community by way of the use of innovative scientific agriculture practices to bring major economic transformation in this sector and to make it a sustainable and remunerative economic activity for the farming community.
The government, it said, is providing requisite assistance for shifting from Commodity based to Product Based approach besides initiating assertive market-oriented programs relevant to the agro-climatic scenario of J&K helping them to become an Agricultural entrepreneur.
“J&K has an edge over the rest of India by providing Off-season Vegetables which helps our farmers to have a monopoly over the market and hence provide them an enhanced price for their produce,” reveals the report. “This approach is being replicated in other areas on the basis of site-specific crop production.”
“A Holistic Agriculture Development Plan, it states has been developed comprising of 29 Project Proposals recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for its implementation in the next 5 years which have been proposed by Dr Mangla Rai Committee having a financial commitment of Rs 5012.74 crore.”
“The expected outcome of these projects will be that gross agricultural output which is to the tune of Rs 37559 Cr. per year will grow to Rs 65701 Cr. per year over the next 5 years, the CAGR of Agriculture & Allied Sectors at the end of the project period shall grow to 11.08% from the current 2.02%, livelihood of 13 lakh farm families shall be secured with particular emphasis on 2.62 lakh marginal families, Rs 28142 Cr shall be added to the GSDP of J&K annually, 18861 new business enterprises shall be created, additional jobs to the tune of 2,87,910 shall be created in the Agriculture & Allied Sectors etc.”