Dr Banarsi Lal & Dr Pawan
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is endowed with diverse agro- climatic conditions, rich genetic diversity and vast natural resources that offer a great scope to develop agro-ecosystem by specific technological interventions for diversification of hill agriculture and allied activities. This hilly part of India displays distinct ethnic, socio-cultural and economic features, geographical identity with climatic variability different from the rest of the country. Around 80 per cent of the people depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood. The total area of Jammu and Kashmir is 42,241 sq km and population density is 290/sq km. J&K is surrounded by the hills and comprises of 20 districts. Over the years, the farmers of J&K have adopted new agricultural technologies but still there is low productivity of almost all the crops. Due to diverse regional typologies, difficult terrain, marginality, fragility, extreme vulnerability to natural events, poor infrastructures, distinctive gender dimensions, only 30 per cent of total geographical area in J&K is under cultivation. Agriculture contributes about 65 per cent of J&K revenue which explains its overdependence on agriculture.Technology development has a critical impact on many aspects of hilly areas development, especially the way we choose it, the way we design it and the way we deliver it to the end users. Technology should be carefully chosen for the farmers of hilly areas to imbibe knowledge appropriate to their needs, cultures and environment. Technology should be designed in such a way so that it can upgrade the skills and capabilities, reduce drudgery, minimize fatigue, capable of easy assimilation, generate added value to the existing methods of operation, generate employment and income, low in capital investment, low in cost of production, be capable of replication and adoption and should blend harmoniously with existing eco-systems leading to tangible improvements in the living conditions and development of the people of hilly areas of J&K.
There is dire need to introduce appropriate technologies in the hilly areas of J&K particularly in disadvantaged sections of the society. There is a need of institutional linkages and active participation of voluntary organizations, Science and Technology based institutions, Research and Development institutions, financial agencies and most importantly people who are the primary stakeholders. Success of these technologies lies on participatory systems with a systematically approach for effective dissemination of technology. There should be proper mechanism in development and transfer of effective technologies in the hilly areas of J&K.
The technologies should be assessed and refined by the Science and Technology based institutions. These organizations then look for ideal technology option ensuring the availability of local resources and skills.Technology should be developed according to the in-house capability of the local people with the assistance of technical institutions. The technology should be developed in such a way so that it is accepted by the people of hilly areas and which is best suited in their local conditions for a long-term sustainability.
The people should be trained to operate the new technology and also trained in its maintenance and repair.
The Science and Technology institutions and NGOs should help in backward and forward linkages both for production as well as marketing for long-term sustainability. There should be proper linkage between the scientists, field functionaries and the farmers.
Extensionists should conduct the awareness/training camps in the rural areas on new technologies so that the capabilities of the farmers of hilly areas can be upgraded.
The awareness on new technologies among the farmers of hilly areas should also be created through the print media, social and electronic media.
(To be continued)