Agriculture plays a very prominent role in the development of economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Around 70% of the population in the J&K gets livelihood directly or indirectly from the Agriculture and allied sectors. The Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir comprises of two regions namely Jammu and Kashmir having distinct geographical features and agro climatic zones. Each zone has its own features that define the crop pattern and its productivity.
AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH
Low altitude subtropical zone (JK-1) – Jammu Region
The zone is characterized by monsoon, concentration of precipitation, hot spell of summer, relatively dry but pronounced winter and preponderance of alluvial soils. It includes the entire Jammu region and the lower parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Principal crops/fruits: Paddy, maize, wheat, oats.
Major livestock: Cross and local cow, buffalo, sheep and goat.
Mid to high altitude intermediate zone (JK-2) – Jammu Region
This zone comes under subtropical. In this zone, there is fluctuation in temperature and it comprises the Panjal trap (mid and high altitude areas). The zone is characterized by monsoon, moderate rainfall, relatively wetter, colder winters and higher mean annual rainfall than that of Doda. Zone comprises parts of Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua.
Principal crops/fruits: Maize, wheat, barley, paddy, oats, oilseeds.
Major livestock: Local cow, buffalo, crossbred cow.
Mid to high altitude temperate zone (JK-3) – Kashmir Region
Kashmir region or temperate zone essentially covers the valley of Kashmir. This zone often remains wet, and the winter is severe with frost, snow, and rain, and the summer is dry and warm. Snowfall, an important form of precipitation, helps to maintain adequate moisture supply during summer when rainfall is scanty.
Principal crops/fruits: Paddy, maize, oilseeds, temperate fruits almond, saffron.
Major livestock: Crossbred and local cow, sheep and goat.
Cold arid zone (JK-4) – Union territory of Ladakh
This region lies in the northernmost tip of the Asian sub-continent between Karakoram and greater Himalayan ranges.
Principal crops/fruits: Barley, wheat, alfalfa, apricot.
Major livestock: Local and crossbred cow, yak, pashmina goat.
Agricultural Practices in Jammu and Kashmir
Agriculture is the practice in which crops are cultivated in the soil, and animals are tamed, and pastoral farming is done. In the Valley, rice, the staple crop, is planted in May and harvested in late September. Corn, millet, pulses (legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils), cotton, and tobacco are winter rice—the main summer crops, while wheat and barley are the chief spring crops of Jammu and Kashmir.
Wheat, barley, Indian corn, and oats are also grown. Its climate is also suitable for crops like asparagus, artichoke, seakale, broad beans, scarlet runners, beetroot, cauliflower and cabbage. Fruit trees are common in the valley, and the cultivated orchards yield pears, apples, peaches, and cherries. The chief trees are deodar, firs and pines, chinar or plane, maple, birch and walnut, apple, cherry etc.
The valley of Kashmir is well known for saffron cultivation as well. In general, the Jammu plain has a high concentration of wheat, rice, maize, pulses, fodder and oilseeds. Basmati rice and Rajmash (pulses) are cash crops of the Jammu region that are very valuable crops. Sugarcane, chillies, cotton, vegetables and potatoes are also grown in the Jammu region in which only chillies, saffron and potatoes are grown in Kashmir valley. Oilseeds require hot and moist climate while the hot and dry climate suits the pulses. Besides the oilseeds there are other crops like sugarcane and tea etc. Sugarcane is grown in Akhnoor, Kathua, R.S. Pura regions of Jammu.
It is not grown in Kashmir and Ladakh as it requires hot climate. Tea is grown on the slopes of Keran and Bandipora in Jammu region. Amarnath (Ganhar) is low yielding. When the grain is ready, it is parched, ground and eaten with milk. It is sown in the valley of Kashmir. The temperature needed for tobacco is warm and moist, and the soil must contain lime in good quantity.
Frost kills it. Tobacco is largely grown in the valley of Kashmir but also grown in Jammu region too. Jowar and Bajra are grown mainly as fodder for animals. Main areas for cultivation of Jowar and Bajra are Kandi Belt of Jammu Division, Samba, Kathua, Hiranagar of Jammu region.
