Prof. B.N. Tripathi
vcskuastjammu@gmail.com
The agricultural economy of Jammu & Kashmir forms the backbone of rural livelihoods in the region. Nearly 70 percent of the population depends on agriculture and allied sectors. Together, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and fisheries contribute about 20 percent to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with crops accounting for 11-12 percent, livestock 5-6 percent, and fisheries less than 1 percent. Key products such as apples, walnuts, saffron, rice, maize, and vegetables play a vital role in employment generation, state income, and food security.
Today, J&K agriculture stands at a decisive crossroads. Climate change, shrinking natural resources, and increasing market competition demand a transition from traditional practices to science-led, innovation-driven growth. Amid these challenges, technological interventions are becoming the foundation of agricultural development, and Jammu & Kashmir is steadily establishing new benchmarks in agricultural research and innovation.
The state has intensified research in crop improvement, seed development, soil health, water management, and climate-resilient agriculture. The number of agricultural patents is rising, reflecting a strong research ecosystem. Over 200 agricultural and horticultural technologies and varieties have been developed or recommended, resulting in a 15-30 percent increase in productivity. The Holistic Agricultural Development Programme (HADP) provides a robust, field-oriented platform that connects research directly with farmers. A key priority is strengthening seed research and multiplication chains to ensure 100 percent availability of advanced and certified seeds, potentially adding Rs 8,000- Rs 15,000 per hectare to farmers’ income.
Research on coarse grains, particularly millets, promotes nutritional security with lower water and input requirements, benefiting rainfed areas. Mechanization, precision agriculture, sensor-based smart farming, and protected cultivation are improving resource-use efficiency by 20-25 percent. Polyhouses and high-tech greenhouses are doubling and even tripling vegetable production. Scientific interventions in medicinal and aromatic plants have opened income opportunities of Rs 1.5-3 lakh per hectare.
Livestock research aims to enhance self-sufficiency by addressing the current 40.93 percent fodder deficit through the production of 15 lakh metric tons from orchards and 3.75 lakh metric tons from forest areas. Parallel efforts are underway to achieve self-sufficiency in mutton production and improve dairy productivity through scientific breeding, nutrition, and health management.
Diversification through alternative farming systems is creating new income pathways. Under the PPP model, community seed banks are being established across all blocks. Alternative farming including hydroponic units has huge potential to generate additional quantity of fodder.
Agri-startups are emerging as a powerful driver of rural transformation in Jammu & Kashmir. The region’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, rich biodiversity, and strong horticulture and livestock base offer immense opportunities in seed production, nurseries, precision farming services, protected cultivation, agri-logistics, value addition, food processing, medicinal plants, and digital advisory platforms. A focused agri-startup policy must emphasize incubation support, credit facilitation, risk-sharing mechanisms, and assured market linkages.
Across India, several states have demonstrated how quality-led agriculture can unlock premium markets and farmer prosperity. Punjab and Haryana have strengthened seed certification and residue monitoring systems; Maharashtra has built strong value chains in grapes and pomegranates through traceability and GLOBALG.A.P. standards; Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have promoted quality-linked exports in spices, coffee, and millets; while Himachal Pradesh has positioned itself in organic and GI-tagged niche products. These states show that productivity alone is no longer sufficient as quality, safety and compliance now determine market access and price realization.
For Jammu & Kashmir, this is both an opportunity and a warning. The region’s apples, saffron, walnuts, vegetables, medicinal plants, and livestock products enjoy a natural comparative advantage, but failure to meet national and international quality standards can result in severe economic losses. Recent restrictions and bans imposed on reputed Indian brands due to excessive pesticide residues and contaminants underline how even established names can face reputational and market damage if quality protocols are compromised. For a region like J&K, where farmers increasingly depend on distant and export markets, lapses in quality, residue management, grading, and traceability could directly translate into rejected consignments and falling farm incomes.
As a New Year priority, Jammu & Kashmir must therefore move decisively towards quality-driven agriculture. This requires stricter seed and input regulation, residue-free production systems, on-farm quality assurance, laboratory strengthening, traceability platforms, and farmer training on good agricultural practices. SKUAST Jammu has a critical role in developing quality benchmarks, standard operating procedures, residue management advisories, and certification-linked production models, while guiding FPOs and startups to align with premium and export markets. Only by combining productivity with quality, safety, and branding can J&K agriculture secure its place in competitive national and global value chains.
In the new year, the convergence of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) is set to energize agriculture at the block level. These programmes will promote need-based planning, infrastructure development, climate-resilient technologies, and market-oriented production systems. HADP will strengthen research-led interventions, seed systems, mechanization, and diversification, while JKCIP will enhance competitiveness through value chains, post-harvest management, and institutional capacity building.
In essence, Jammu & Kashmir’s agriculture is entering a new era, where science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy convergence are transforming farming into a resilient, competitive, and income-driven sector for farmers and youth alike.
(The author is Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu)
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