Problems and Prospects of Himalayan Farmers and Farming: A Case Study of District Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir (original) (raw)

Imperatives for Sustenance of Agricultural Economy in the Mountains: A Prototype from Jammu Kashmir

Agricultural Economics Research Review, 2014

Different facets of agricultural economy of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) have been investigated in a broader policy perspective to arrive at imperatives for its sustenance. The study has revealed that public investment in agriculture has increased in absolute terms, though its intensity is lower than of the non-agricultural sector in the state. Also, there is a wide demand-supply gap in institutional credit to agriculture which is more pronounced in the cold-arid agro-climatic zone. Though the road network has expanded in the rural areas, a good proportion of villages still remain to be connected to the nearest towns. The electricity consumption in agriculture constitutes only 5 per cent of total electricity consumption in the state. A decline in the number of cooperatives, poor seed replacement rate, wide technological gaps, stagnant irrigation capacities and shifting agricultural land, all of which have long-term implications for agricultural growth, are some of the vital observations made in the study. Moreover, the inefficient /unorganized existing marketing system deprives the farmers of real benefits in most of the marketing channels. The study has concluded that the carrying capacity of available land resources in the state is poor tosustain human and livestock population.

Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on Farm Income under Existing Farming Systems: A Study in North-Western Himalayas

Indian Journal of Extension Education, 2021

The present study was conducted in the State of Himachal Pradesh which is located in North-Western Himalayas in between 30o22'40'' to 33o12'40'' North latitudes and 75o45'55'' to 79o04'20'' East longitudes. The study was conducted in all four agro-climatic zones of the hills of Himachal Pradesh and data from a total of 240 farmers was collected using stratified multistage random sampling technique. The different farming systems practiced by the farmers in the State were identified and multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to study the impact of socio-economic factors on farm income. The results of the study revealed that the coefficient of age of the farmers was positive in all the farming systems except V+F+D and was statistically significant in C+D farming system. Similarly, the coefficient of household size was also positive in all the farming systems except C+V+D,whereas, farmers' education was found positively significant under C+V+F+D, C+F+D and V+F+D farming systems. Further, the coefficient of number of animals was positive and statistically significant in all the farming systems except in V+F+D which revealed the positive relationship of livestock and farm income. It was concluded that farm income in the study area can be improved by directing policy measures that will increase the farmers' knowledge and technical skills through enlightenment campaigns in the form of trainings, seminars, workshops etc.

Agriculture production and food security in Himalayan state Uttarakhand of India

TIJ's Research Journal of Economics & Business Studies - RJEBS, 2018

Food security is a socio-economic issue directly linked to human health and sustainable development. Decrease in agriculture production may impact directly to food security, deficit agricultural production may invite to imports and hence increasing the price of the agricultural products making difficult to implement food security. Investments in agriculture are important to increase food security. The channels are complex and multiple. Rising productivity increases rural incomes and lowers food prices, making food more accessible to the poor. In Himalayas, food security of communities primarily depends on local agricultural productivity and food purchasing power. Major constraints of food security vary from fragmentation of agriculture land to fragility of landscape, high rate of erosion, low soils fertility, traditional methods of cultivation, poor infrastructural facilities including lack of proper market and finance. In Uttarakhand there are maximum hill districts making it diffi...

Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir: A Statistical Analysis

2018

Agriculture, in most developing economies, is the core sector providing a livelihood to a significant proportion of population, especially in rural areas. Since this sector faces the largest burnt of under employment, unemployment and poverty, a growing agriculture and allied sector is expected to contribute vastly to overall growth and poverty reduction. Increasing the productive capacity of agriculture through productivity has been an important goal in developing countries.

Trends and Patterns of Agricultural Growth in North-West Himalayan, India. (1986-87 to 2005-06

Thepresent study discusses the trends and patterns of agricultural growth in NorthWest Himalaya, India. Data on important variables likearea, production and yield of various crops were compiled for the years 1986-87 to 2005-06 from published sources. The analysis shows that the production of food grains has not declined as is often thought but food grain production may decline in the future because of the shift to cash crop farming. From the cropping pattern changes of these crops, it can also be said that the growth of rice is slowed down and other crops like oilseeds and potatoes are emerging after 1993-96 which means that the agriculture in NorthWest is diversifying towards horticulture and cash crops. Furthermore, the growth of area, production and productivity of various horticulture crops in NorthWest Himalayan states during 2006 to 2010 has been increasing from year to year. It is due to the reason that mountain farmers diversified towards horticulture and cash crops after liberalization. Among the NorthWest Himalayan states, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a phenomenal increase in fruit production over last two decades. The average annual growth rates in the area, production and productivity of various fruits and vegetables between 2006 and 2010 shows positive growth rate.It is due to availability of irrigation facility and also because of high returns from these crops in the domestic and international market.

SUBJECT I HILL AGRICULTURE IN INDIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE Unlocking the Potential of Agriculture in North-eastern Hill Region of India

2010

With rich land, abundant water and a favourable climate, hill agriculture in India’s north-eastern region, comprising states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, has considerable potential to grow, and contribute towards improving farm incomes, enhancing food and nutrition security, reducing rural poverty and accelerating the overall economic growth of the region. Unfortunately the growth potential of hill agriculture has remained under-exploited due to lack of system-specific production technologies, poor infrastructure (transport, markets, processing) and underdeveloped institutions (credit, extension, information, insurance), notwithstanding the structural constraints imposed by difficult terrains, inaccessible habitations, diverse socio-cultural and agricultural typologies, and small, scattered and fragmented land holdings. The agricultural sector, including crops, animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry, contributed 26 per c...

Characterization of farming systems in Jammu region of JK State and its policy implications

African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2016

Farming systems of households in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir State have been analyzed based on the primary data collected through a total sample of 450 farmers in 2010-2011. The cereal based farming system and livestock based farming system has been found mostly in the study area except in Rajouri district where only cereal based farming system was predominant. Livestock and cereals only have been found to be the main sources of farm income in all the districts, whereas maximum contribution to their income was from non-farm. The study has indicated that credit has no impact on farm income as none of the sample farmers has taken credit from any sources, whether it is institutional or non-institutional sources. It was also observed that cross-bred breeding programme has not marked headway in the sample area. As far as resource use efficiency was concerned, Cobb-Douglas production was used and it was observed that the elasticity coefficient was highly significant for area und...

Socio-economic Study of Small Farmers of Jammu and Kashmir

The present study was conducted in Jammu and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir . From each district, three villages were selected randomly . Thus, a total of six villages were selected. A study was carried out prior to the research study to know about the major crops grown for food grains, livestock and the availability of water for irrigation. Wheat and paddy constitute the major crops grown in these villages. Potato is also cultivated by limited number of families. Barseem is grown for live - stock and mustard is also grown by some respondents. Almost the entire area is irrigated. From each selected village fifteen respondents were selected purposively . The selection of respondents was on the basis of their size of land holdings. Farmers having land holdings up to 2 hectares were selected. The final sample, thus consisted of 90 respondents. Data was obtained by a well prepared semi-structured interview schedule, which also consisted of a set of eight statements related to non adoption of technology . The huge yield gap between the yields obtained and the maximum obtainable yields have to be narrowed. There is a considerable potential to increase production and yield per hectare by the introduction of new inputs and improved practices of cultivation

Livelihood opportunities through agriculture and allied field in the mid-hills of Uttarakhand

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2019

Uttarakhand, where the study will be carried out is a state with diverse agro-climatic features. In Uttarakhand more than 75 percent of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood and farmers mainly practice subsistence farming. Farming in the state is characterized by mixed cropping and a mere merely 10 per cent of the agricultural land in the state has irrigation facility. Another feature typical of hill farming is the small and scattered land holdings. Out of the total cultivated area, about 50 per cent of landholdings (in number) are sub marginal, and 21 per cent of landholdings measure between 0.5–1 hectares. Major crops grown in the Uttarakhand hills are rice, wheat, maize, plum, peach, pear, mango, potato, tomato, green pea, cauliflower, capsicum, etc. Farmers or primary producers in the state face many challenges, of both technical and economic nature. More than 80 per cent of working population of the state is engaged in agriculture whereas only 25 per cent o...