Srinagar : Growing concerns over the sale of agricultural land and its conversion for non-agricultural purposes have triggered calls for stricter enforcement of land-use regulations to protect Kashmir’s food security and rural livelihoods.
Agricultural land is increasingly being sold to meet expenses such as house construction, vehicle purchases and marriages, while the conversion of paddy fields into horticultural land without assessing long-term consequences has also emerged as a concern.
The issue has drawn attention to the need for sustainable land management, with concerns that the loss of fertile farmland could affect agricultural production and the livelihood opportunities available to future generations.
The government has been urged to enforce existing regulations, prevent illegal conversion of agricultural land and introduce measures to discourage distress sales by farmers facing financial pressures.
There have also been calls for greater awareness among farmers about the long-term value of productive land and for better income opportunities to reduce the need to sell farmland to meet immediate expenses.
With technological changes, including the growing use of artificial intelligence, reshaping employment opportunities, agriculture remains an important source of livelihood and food security.
Protecting agricultural land has been described as essential to preserving Kashmir’s natural resources and ensuring that future generations have access to fertile soil and sustainable livelihoods.
