“After reduced snowfall the change in rainfall patterns could bring under more stress the farming communities of both agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.”
The dry spell of over a month in mid winter period called “Chilla-i-Kalan” this year despite the recent snowfall has brought under stress the agriculture and horticulture sectors the main sources of livelihoods in Jammu & Kashmir. A draught like scenario the possibility of which can’t be ruled out necessitates immediate shift to water conservation practices as otherwise rain fed agriculture is likely to take a big hit this year. So awareness about the water conservation practices among farmers deserves and demands the highest priority in Jammu & Kashmir as the fear of dip in rainfall aggravating the situation during upcoming peak summer periods continues to haunt the farmers of both agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir particularly Kashmir Valley. After reduced snowfall the change in rainfall patterns could bring under more stress the farming communities of both agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir. In the emerging scenario the onus of creating awareness about water conservation practices among the farmers lies mainly on twin agriculture universities in Srinagar and Jammu and also the directorates of agriculture and horticulture departments in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. Without waiting for arrival of intense heat waves in the peak summer periods the twin agriculture universities in Srinagar and Jammu should right in the earnest launch a public awareness campaign about the water conservation practices in collaboration with the directorates of agriculture and horticulture departments in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division.
“Besides conserving irrigation water the augmentation of water resources is also an unavoidable compulsion for the Government to secure the prospects of successful agriculture and horticulture seasons this summer. The practices of conserving irrigation water and augmenting water resources if adopted through a mass awareness program can surely bring down the pressures of dry spells in upcoming peak summer months in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division.”
This is the time for the Government to take a serious note of the views of the experts of Kashmir and Jammu agriculture universities who believe that judicious use of irrigation water is very crucial for the farming in agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir. Keeping in view the central role of the judicious use of irrigation water in both agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir this is the time for the Government to launch an awareness campaign about conservation of irrigation water to secure the prospects of a successful agriculture and horticulture season this summer. Besides conserving irrigation water the augmentation of water resources is also an unavoidable compulsion for the Government to secure the prospects of successful agriculture and horticulture seasons this summer. The practices of conserving irrigation water and augmenting water resources if adopted through a mass awareness program can surely bring down the pressures of dry spells in upcoming peak summer months in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division.
