Agriculture sector is the backbone of India. The rural economy and agriculture is so strong that the country can easily cope with adverse situations. Our agriculture sector has shown this during the covid epidemic Because of this, the Government of India has provided food security to crores of people of the country and also aided the friendly countries. Today we are at the top position in the world in terms of most of the agricultural production. India’s food grain production is increasing every year and the country is one of the major producers of crops like wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables. Despite all this, the agriculture sector faces many challenges. There are many factors that affect agricultural production. Agricultural production also depends on many factors. These include availability and quality of agricultural inputs such as land, water, seeds and fertilizers, agricultural credit and crop insurance facilities, assurance of remunerative prices for agricultural produce, and storage and marketing infrastructure. In previous year 2022 due to the current ravages of drought that started in June, Jammu and Kashmir was expected to record a huge drop in Rice production compared to 2021.A drought had already set in between June and August 2022 with a lack of probable rainfall, which almost destroyed the June to September season’s kharif production. It was believed to be the worst drought in recent years, which had taken a heavy toll on the water standing crops like Paddy cultivation . According to reports , two-thirds of Kashmir villages were facing water scarcity for irrigation. So only half of the average kharif yield in this season was expected to be produced .As a result, the production of food grains, especially Paddy was expected to drop drastically.At the same time, it was also being expected that Some other grains, including maize, will also be affected by this drought and their yields may drop. There was also a possibility of reduction in yield of other crops and farmers will not be interested in cultivating other pulse or dry land crops.
After successful Mustard cultivation, we had huge production of Pulses and Maize. Farmers at least got good price to Crops like Green gram, hybrid and Sweet corn maize, beans and chillies. It was also due to the hard work of Technocrats and agriculture crops got more profit than fruit Crops.
The estimate prepared by the Different agencies was actually part of the memorandum submitted to the Government to deal with the drought situation. Given for the need to give support. Statistics Showing that draught would damage cash crops as well. The estimates also pointed to major declines in many crops.Most worryingly, the arrival of agricultural produce in major markets of the province would also be adversely affected as a result of the drought۔ At this Stage here came the man with great Ambitions, dedicated officer Director Agriculture Kashmir Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal by taking quick action to save the farmers from further losses.He assured that the decline in production will not lead to any food crisis. Despite the possibility of huge loss in the Kharif crop, there is no threat of any foodgrain crisis in the province as there are other alternatives available to grow other crops he assured. As also said by experts , that the increase in the production of pulses and dry crops in the province would increase the income of the farmers, especially with the increase in the prices of pulses. And people will get grains, vegetables and pulses from local farmers. For some time in programs, newspapers and social media, farmers have been telling the story of their woes caused by the drought, which has taught their luscious crops and withered the colorful and juicy fruits on the shoots gone. Those who earn a living from the fields were sitting holding their heads, what should they do? The villain in all of them is the same, and that is climate change, which is the enemy of everyone, whether the farmer is from any corner of the world. After successful Mustard cultivation, we had huge production of Pulses and Maize. Farmers at least got good price to Crops like Green gram, hybrid and Sweet corn maize, beans and chillies. It was also due to the hard work of Technocrats and agriculture crops got more profit than fruit Crops.
( The author is a freelancer.The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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