C M Sharma
cmohan.sharma16@gmail.com
India, the most populous country of the world with more than 140 crore population, is also the world’s 7th largest country with approximately 32,87,263 sq. km. land area and a land boundary of about 15,200 km. length. The country produces a wide range of agricultural commodities in her 15 delineated agro-climatic zones, broadly defined on the basis of factors such as temperature, rainfall, soil type and crop suitability. As per 2022-23 estimates, these commodities fulfill not only the domestic requirements, but also derive a significant USD 53.1 Billion from the exports. Basmati rice, fresh fruits and vegetables of different kinds constitute a major chunk of the agricultural exports. In spite of these strengths, Indian agriculture faces several other challenges, but a few prominent ones are discussed here.
More than 50 percent of the country’s farming area is rainfed and therefore, a single season or year of deficit rainfall and snow or failure of monsoon rains is enough to result in droughts and crop failure in one part of the country or another. Similarly, recurring floods in large areas due to excessive, widespread and high intensity rains, besides cyclones in coastal areas, result in extensive damage and crop failures. No wonder, the pre-independence British colonial era witnessed a complex interplay of environmental, social, political and economic factors leading to frequent food shortages and famines in India.
After independence in 1947, the country struggled relentlessly against the challenges in the agriculture sector for about two decades. It was during the middle of 1960s, that the agricultural scientists and extension workers succeeded in bringing about a Green Revolution in the country with active support from the Government. The food supplies and public distribution system was also improved and within the following decade, India was transformed from the status of a Food-deficient Nation to the Food-surplus Nation.
Green Revolution was the most refreshing and morale boosting achievement for the country during those years of serious security threats from the most envious neighbouring countries, Pakistan and China. Soon, the winds of change reached the State of Jammu and Kashmir also. The then J&K State, now re – organized into two smaller Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir (L&JK) in 2019, currently rank 7th and 19th among all the 36 States and UTs of the country in terms of geographical area occupying 166,698 sq. km. and 55,538 sq. km. respectively. Although very small in geographical area, the SWOT Analysis and development scenario of L&JK UTs can be considered analogous with that of the whole nation. Though possessing a huge agro-climatic diversity in its 4 major zones and about 17 sub regions, new challenges to agriculture are emerging at national and international level leaving no scope for complacency.
Population growth and rapid urbanization apart, the raging and long drawn Ukraine-Russia war and the recently erupted full-scale and devastating war between Iran and the coalition of United States of America (USA) and Israel and their respective willy-nilly allies around the world, are causing immense loss of men and material, adversely impacting production, supply and costs of vital energy sources like fuel oil and natural gas, crude naphtha, agricultural inputs like urea and potassic fertilizers, etc., raising cost of production and market prices, impairing availability of goods of common use and crippling the world economy. By simultaneously adding to global warming, climate change and environmental degradation, about which no politician appears to be currently worried, these wars are eventually going to seriously hurt the agriculture and allied sectors.
It is therefore imperative for the Union and the UT Governments to propagate and implement the most efficient strategies, methods and technologies to derive the optimum agricultural and allied outputs from the vast agro-climatic diversity and rich resources that nature has blessed to India and our States and UTs. A sustained effort to improve the quality and value of agricultural products to international standards and also to ensure food security during the foreseeable turbulent times assumes immense significance. Mind it, dependence on imports can be deceptive anytime.
Under the farsighted and pragmatic leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India that is Bharat, has already launched massive efforts to realize his dream of Atmnirbhar (self-reliant) and Viksit Bharat (Developed Bharat) by the year 2047 – the Centenary Year of India’s Independence. The all-inclusive Viksit Bharat programme aims at transformation of the country into a self-reliant and prosperous economy by the year 2047, while simultaneously working to develop an impregnable defence and national security system. Economic growth, technological up-gradation, infrastructure development, social empowerment, and sustainability are the principal criteria of Viksit Bharat programme.
In alignment with this resolve, the Government of India and the UT Government have significantly scaled up investments in Agriculture and allied sectors in the UT of J&K during the past few years. Since 2019, the J&K UT has reportedly received a cumulative total of Rs 2,211.67 crore as direct income support released to farmers under the PM-Kisan Scheme. In 2024, the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP) has been launched with an outlay of Rs 1,800 crore (A $100 million, approx. ?830 crore loan-supported project) from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) aimed at modernization and market linkages.
A cornerstone of the UT Government’s effort, launched by the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha in 2023-24, is the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), a 5-year, 29-project initiative (including dairying, poultry, sheep farming, and high-density fruit farming), with a total outlay of Rs 5,013 crore. Through these investments, the Agriculture sector’s contribution to the UT economy is likely to increase from ?37,559 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore. Approximately 2.88 lakh new jobs will also be created and about 2.5 lakh skilled farmers and agri-preneurs will be developed by the year 2028. The government targets to strengthen agri-ecosystem, modernize agriculture, improve infrastructure, increase farmers’ income and boost GDP. The immediate goal is to transform traditional subsistence farming of the UT into a high-value, tech-driven, commercial agricultural economy by the year 2028. In February 2026, the J&K Assembly passed significant grants for agriculture and allied sectors, including ?2,423.86 crore for Agriculture, ?696.48 crore for Horticulture, and ?1,160.40 crore for Animal/Sheep Husbandry.
Whereas, the enhanced allocation of money is always welcome, much satisfaction can be drawn from the digital mode of direct benefit transfer, that has institutionalized implementation of programmes, projects and schemes in a transparent manner. However, it would be more appreciable to create an accountable and answerable Agricultural Task Force system to implement given works in a time-bound and efficient manner.
Here, it would also be desirable to launch a campaign, particularly with peoples’ involvement in the rural areas, to take following focused steps as per relevance in their respective areas:
* Proper identification of irrigation water sources and their efficient harnessing on turn-key basis through drip, sprinkler, piped irrigation (use of mulches included), to get ‘More Crop Per Drop’;
* Establish employment generating Farm Machinery Banks and Custom Hiring Centres in hills to promote much needed Farm mechanization;
* Establishing appropriate processing units and developing direct marketing linkages for farmers of the hills is key to prevent mass emigration of educated youth from villages to cities and towns;
* Harnessing Solar Energy, Wind Energy and Hydro-power for Agriculture being highly relevant as prices of petroleum products soar higher and higher;
* Promoting Animal Husbandry, Dairy farming and Organic Farming Systems in feasible clusters
* Scientific establishment of Village Wood Lots, plant nurseries, plantation of erosion preventing and agro-climatically suitable trees for fruit, timber, fodder, bee-forage, tree-borne oilseeds, social forestry, medicinal and other commercial use, etc.;
* Strengthen pastures and grasslands to encourage open grazing by indigenous breeds of cows, sheep, goats, etc;
* Utilize Cultivable waste lands for appropriate agricultural use as per feasibility;
* Encourage and ensure protection and cultivation of every inch of the cultivable land;
* Area expansion under traditional high value and stress tolerant crops, minor millets, mushrooms, bee-keeping and floriculture to achieve ecologically and commercially viable scale of production in agro-climatically suitable clusters;
* Consistent and Effective handholding of FPOs, SHGs, etc. by CBBOs and agriculture experts so that these don’t remain in papers only;
* Establishing Brands of Agricultural Products and maintaining their Quality standards;
* Organizing detailed hands-on trainings in relevant subjects and Establishment of on-farm processing units by specially involving and training educated women and youth;
Further, there is a need to realize that contrary to popular belief amongst a majority of modern economists, that having a majority of population engaged in agricultural profession is the symptom of a poor economy, the fact remains that the measure of a developed economy is determined by the size of land holding optimum for a particular situation. Land is a very vital asset with the farmers that provides them a significant job opportunity. With their knowledge and skill, even the mushroom growers, honey-bee keepers, flower & medicinal plant growers, dairy and poultry farmers etc. possessing very limited land, have turned successful agri-entrepreneurs. The main issue for farmers remains, achieving optimum production and economic returns per unit area and time, on a sustainable basis.
If producer farmers continue to be facilitated in selling their quality produce anywhere, at a price not less than the Minimum Support Price fixed by the government, it will ultimately be for the welfare of the community. The strength and welfare of the farming community will eventually determine the strength and resilience of India’s economy.
May the mantra of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan’ get translated into action at all levels.
(The author is former Deputy Director of Agriculture, J&K Government)
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