Jammu and Kashmir is a hilly Union territory having a varied topography with a large diversity in terms of culture, social and economic practices of its different regions (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh). Despite the structural changes taking place both at national and state level. Agriculture has been the top priority at both the levels as this sector plays a strategic role in the process of economic development of Jammu and Kashmir, and on an average 70% of the population are still getting livelihood and employability from this sector coupled with its allied sectors, as this sector contributes around 27% of the states income. Presently agriculture sector is contributing 13.7% of the GDP at national level and at state level it is contributing around 21.09%. The union territory Jammu and Kashmir is fundamentally divided into three divisions namely as Jammu division, Kashmir division and Ladakh division each division is having their own and distinct geographical outlook for their respective agro climatic zones which in turn determine their cropping pattern and productivity of crops. Jammu and Kashmir is well known for its Paddy crop followed by maize, oilseeds pulses, vegetables fodder and wheat where as in Jammu region the most eatable and produced crop is wheat which is followed by maize, paddy, pulses, oilseeds etc where as barley is the major cereal crop followed by wheat in Ladakh. Jammu and Kashmir has also got the monopoly in terms of Saffron crop(famous all over the world due to its quality) which is being produced in the district Pulwama 15KM away from Srinagar. At the same time Basmati Rice is being produced in Jammu division as well as in different districts in Jammu which constitute the economic significance of the state which are functioning under the various departmental interventions in quality improvement, productivity enhancement, marketing etc.
Kashmir is losing its agriculture land due to low rates of return, limited irrigation facilities and the high price of land because of urbanization. The agriculture land of Kashmir is shrinking at an alarming rate which is a major concern for future generations. Annually Kashmir is losing an average of 1375 hectares of agricultural land due to rapid construction of commercial infrastructure, brick-kilns, residential colonies and shopping complexes. Agriculture in Kashmir, within the past 16 years, the region has lost 22,000 hectares of agriculture land. The survey conducted by the department reveals that agriculture land decreased from 1,63,000 hectares in 1996 to 1,41,000 hectares in 2012 a loss of 22,000 hectares over 16 years according to state records. Agriculture is an
important activity of the Himalayan region which plays a prominent role in the economy of the Kashmir valley as around 70 per cent of its population living in rural areas are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. The decreasing of agricultural land in the valley is a major cause of concern for future generations which needs a proper and urgent attention by the concerned authorities so that previous attire of agricultural lands comes again. The government is not taking any serious measures to preserve the agricultural lands here, due to which the concrete structures are coming up in-places that once used to be agricultural lands some years ago.
The main problem is that the agricultural land is declining day after day due to the unplanned emergence of residential colonies in paddy fields and also due to
increase in population which leads to a continuous breakdown of the joint family system which makes it mandatory for nuclear family to construct a new house for his own family, to live away from the joint family which is most emerging trend in the valley. In my village 5-10 years back there was many 300_400 joint families living in our village, but in the present context there is not a single joint family. The joint family in the valley is not seen in present era, the shrinking of agricultural lands is a major concern
of future generations which will make the valley more dependent on the rest of country for food grains. The deficit is increasing year by year as the gap between production and requirement is increasing swiftly in the state.
As we all know, In Kashmir division where 70% of the people are directly or indirectly related to agricultural activities for their livelihood. But if the agricultural lands get decreased day after day, ultimately the time will come when there would be no agricultural land in the valley and the entire population of the valley must be dependent
on other states of the country for their food needs. This is the impact number one which is coming nearer and nearer to the valley people and we are seeing in the present context that lots of food-grains transported on trucks along national highway to the Kashmir valley. If the highway gets closed for weeks the valley faces food shortage and this is alarming situation the residents of the valley which needs urgent attention of the concerned authorities of the valley. The impact number two is that the people of the valley will be devoid of work and jobs which are related with the agriculture sector. This will have a huge impact on the economic stability of the Kashmir valley, which will lead to more poorer sections of the society. When the economy will become only market or business doing sections of the society will only emerge leaving behind maximum population which will day after day will become poorer and poorer. This will lead to the economic disability of the valley. The future impacts of the declining agricultural lands in the valley are very dangerous for the economic stability which needs timely attention of the concerned authorities of the Kashmir valley. If the concerned authorities of the Kashmir valley along with the national or international collaboration with some reputed agencies and agricultural experts take timely, proper and productive steps which will influence the productivity, quality of crops and the
Marketing facilities along with good rates must be the responsibility of the state government. The day is no far when the industry will regain its own glory.
Livestock makes multiple faceted contribution socio-economic development of rural masses. Due to the inelastic absorptive capacity for labor in other economic sectors, livestock sector has the scope for generating more employment opportunities, especially for the marginal and small farmers and landless labourers who own around 70 per cent of the country’s livestock. Being an important
Important source of income and employment for this section of society, the livestock helps in alleviating Poverty and smoothening of income distribution. Livestock is important both as savings and investments for the poor household and provides security or insurance through multiple ways in different production systems .In the mixed crop-livestock system, its importance goes beyond direct food production function. It supplies draught power and organic manures to the crop sector and hides, skin, bones, blood and fibres to the industries. (To Be Continued)

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