Status of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy with special reference to agriculture

Agriculture plays a significant role in the economic development of J&K. It provides a living for approximately 70% of the population. J & K has been categorized into three agro climatic zones, Cold arid Ladakh, temperate Kashmir valley and humid sub-tropical region of Jammu. The average holding size is very small (0.545 hectares). Rice, maize, wheat, pulses, fodder, oilseeds, potato and barley are the main crops. There is a shift toward cultivating low-volume, high-value cash crops like flowers, vegetables, quality seeds, aromatic and medicinal plants, mushrooms, and so on. Bee- keeping, fodder, saffron, ‘Basmati’ rice, ‘Rajmash’, off-season vegetables and potatoes are also being cultivated.