Horticulture leads J&K’s growth chart

Continuing to be the torch-bearer of Jammu and Kashmir’s economic growth, the horticulture sector in last two decades has shown significant increase as the fruit production in last 18 years has gone up by 14 lakh metric tonnes, similarly the area under fruit production has too swelled by 1.1 lakh hectares.

According to the official figures of the state government,the area under production of fruits in Jammu and Kashmir is currently 3.31 lakhhectares while in 2001 it was just 2.21 lakh hectares thus an increase of 1.1lakh hectares.

   

While in last few decades land under agriculture cultivationis witnessing continuous decline, the area under horticulture has seen a hugeincrease thus a silver lining for the state’s economy.

The figures by the Horticulture Department  further show that fruit production in thestate has too increased. In2001, the fruit production was recorded 10.9 lakhmetric tonnes, however in last almost two decades it has now gone up to 24metric tonnes. The apple continues to be leader in fruit production.

In the same period, the apple production has doubled in thestate. In 2001, production of apple was recorded at 9 lakh metric tonnes whichhas now increased to 18 lakh metric tonnes. 

“It is a known fact that horticulture is the maincontributor to our economy, yet it is being meted with step motherly treatmentby the state government, which is very unfortunate,” said chairman, All KashmirValley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basher.

Though horticulture sector provides livelihood to around 7lakh families involving 33 lakh souls thus providing more jobs than governmentsector, it is getting a raw deal as the budgetary allocation towardshorticulture department is not even a 1 percent of the total budget outlay of2019-20.

Governor administration approved Rs 88,911 crore statebudget for the financial year 2019-20, which is expected to give a massive pushto public infrastructure in the state. However, out of this massive budget,meagre allocation of estimated Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for horticulturedepartment. Of which Rs 315 crore are kept for capital expenditure and Rs169.75 crore for revenue expenditure.

The meagre allocation for fruit industry is not new. Thesector which has been helping state to earn moolahs is getting meagre budgetaryallocations over the years. Annually horticulture sector generates Rs 7000crore revenue which is by far higher than all other sectors of the state’seconomy.

According to budget details, in 2018-19, PDP-BJP governmentallocated Rs 528 crore, this year the government has enhanced allocation bymere Rs 20 crore leaving a question mark about seriousness of the successiveregimes in promoting the sector.

In 2015-16, an amount of Rs 1959.88 crore was approved asgrants for agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and cooperative sectors , ofwhich estimated over Rs 500 crore were for horticulture.

According to official figures, horticulture sector generateda total wage employment of 7.71 crore man days in the year 2016-17 under appleorchards and others, coming out as one of the major sources for direct andindirect employment generation in the state.

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