DR BANARSI LAL
J&K is a mountainous Union Territory in which about 30 per cent of the area is under cultivation. Agriculture is the backbone of J&K. This sector provides employment directly or indirectly to about 70 per cent of its inhabitants. The average size of landholding in India is 1.08 hectares where as in Jammu & Kashmir it is 0.54 hectare. Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy of J&K which signifies the overdependence of the J&K on agriculture.Agricultural development harbingers the overall growth and development of J&K. The use of fertilizers and other agrochemicals has started to increase in J&K which deteriorates the soil health. Natural farming is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawn from the traditional Indian practices. It is a unique method of farming which relies on agro-ecology and reduces the cost of cultivation nearly zero. There is no need of expensive agro-inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers and intensive irrigation for natural farming. It has attained a wide success in many states of India especially in the Southern states. Government is stressing on this farming calling for a back to the basics of the Indian agriculture. It is an effective system of farming which sustains the agro-ecosystem including biodiversity and soil biological activities. Natural farming can prove as a major tool for the second green revolution especially in the hilly regions of India.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, climatic conditions, diversity, topography, rich natural flora etc. which are conducive for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. High mountains and small hills, snow peaks, rivers and rivulets, glaciers, valleys and lakes, large forest areas, terraced fields and bugyals are the integral features of hilly areas of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir lies in the North West of the country. Jammu and Kashmir is located between 32.17 and 37.06 North latitude and 73.2 and 80.36 East longitude in the Himalayan region. About 19.95% of the total geographical area of J&K is covered under forests. Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous Union Territory in which about 30 per cent of the area is under cultivation. The agro-diversity of J&K varies from sub-tropical in Jammu region and temperate in Kashmir region. The average annual rainfall of these two regions is 1069mm and 660mm respectively. The average temperatures of these two regions are 24.5 and 13.3 Centigrade respectively. About 58 per cent area in J&K is under agriculture is rainfed and remaining 42 per cent is irrigated. Maize is first rank crop in J&K occupying one-third of the total cropped area, paddy at number second in 28.58 per cent area of gross cropped area and wheat at number three which covers around 26 per cent of the total cropped area. There is need to increase the income and employment in agriculture and allied sectors for the farmers in J&K. There is possibility to increase the production and productivity of the crops and to enable the farmers to increase their income and employment by adopting the new innovations in agriculture and establishing the infrastructure for the farm production. It is a serious concern that the interest of younger generation in J&K is dwindling towards agriculture.
J&K is situated in the North-Western part of India and most of its terrain is mountainous except some lower areas of Kathua, Samba, Jammu districts and the valley of Kashmir. On the basis of physiographic features, UT of J&K is divided into two main divisions (i) Outer Himalayas comprising of whole Jammu province and Lesser Himalayas which embodies whole Kashmir Valley.J&K possesses great altitudinal variation and diverse geological formations. The Jammu division of the UT has a very diverse landscape and climatic conditions and is divided into 10 Districts viz., Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch. Keeping in view the altitude, rainfall, temperature, humidity and topography in view, there are three distinct hill land situations in Jammu division viz., High hill temperate land pockets (Altitude 1500-4500 m above MSL), Mid hill intermediate land pockets (Altitude 800-1500 m above MSL) and Foot hills and plain sub-tropical lands (Altitude 220 – 800 m above MSL) of Jammu region bestowed with enormous diversity in climate, flora and fauna. The Jammu division covers a geographical area of 26,293 km2 and is located between an altitude of 220-4500 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Major part of the division is hilly or mountainous, including the Pir Panjal range which separates it from the Kashmir valley and the part of the Great Himalayas in the eastern districts of Doda and Kishtwar. There is a narrow strip of plains in the South.Temperature ranges from 0°C in January to 45°C in May and June. Upper mountainous Zone of the division is temperate and enjoys snowfall at higher elevations.Monsoon rainfall occurs from July to last week of September and maximum in July and August. Normal annual rainfall range is 887-2050 mm over the entire Jammu division.
The Jammu region of Union Territory of J&K is having a number of rivers namely Chenab, Ravi, Tawi etc. Agriculture occupies an important place in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and about 70 per cent of its population depends on agriculture directly or indirectly.However, there is dissimilarity in priority sectors as thrust area for Kashmir division is fruit crops, Jammu division has the dominance of field/grain crops. The spatial distribution of crops reveals that over 78 per cent of the cropped area is under food grains. The major field crops of the Jammu divsion are Wheat, Maize, Paddy, Mustard, Toria, Peas,Black gram, Lentil,Sesame,Mustard, Chickpea, Berseem, Oats, Bajra and Potato while important fruit crops are Mango, Guava, Citrus, Apple, Pomegranate, Walnut and Apricot. Only 30 % of the area is irrigated while 70 % of the region is dependent on rainfall for agricultural activities.
The soil type in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is described as alluvial, which is mainly found in Kathua and Jammu districts. This soil is loamy with little clay content and has lime and magnesium in small quantities. The Kashmir valley, located in the temperate zone, also has alluvial soil that has high quantities of nitrogen and organic matter.The essential difference between natural and chemical farming is that in chemical farming farmer relies on the chemical interventions to manage pests and weeds and to provide plant nutrition.That means in chemical farming farmer depends on the synthetic pesticides,herbicides and fertilizers whereas natural farming relies on farm based natural formulations such as Beejamrit,Beejamrit,Ghanjeevamrit etc.Organic Farming and Natural farming both shun synthetic use of nutrients and chemicals.The main difference among both is that the inputs used in natural farming are produced on farm and are of natural origin, both from plants and animals.Indegenous breed of cow forms an important component of the natural farming.It has been observed that the fertilizer consumption (kg/ha) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is less than half that of entirecountry. J&Ks fertilizer consumption is 61.9 kg/ha of NPK as compared to nationalvalue of 133.1 kg/ha of NPK ( 2018-19). When we look at the pesticide consumption data of the UT as a whole it may seemcomparable with many other states.
Majority of farmers of Union Territory of J&K have small and marginal size of land holding which generate less income particularly in the hilly areas. Natural farming system is not new and it is being followed in J&K from ancient times. It is the tradition in J&K to add natural farming inputs in the soil which supplement nutrients and improve physical and biological properties of soils. Over the years, the farmers of the hilly Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have adopted new agricultural technologies but still J&K is having low crop productivity of almost all the crops. There is need to develop systematic approach and plan for the development in natural farming in Jammu and Kashmir as J&K has immense potential for natural farming. Significant steps have been taken by the government in order to highlight the importance of natural farming in the growth of J&K economy. There is need to make rigorous efforts to promote natural farming in J&K. Soil health deteriorates due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in the soil. In order to sustain the health of soil, natural farming is the best option. Natural farming is picking up pace in the Union Territory of J&K and there is need of awareness and trainings of farmers for natural farming.KVKs in J&K are promoting the natural farming by upgrading the knowledge and skills of natural farming among the farmers.A project on “Upscaling the Natural Farming through KVKs” has been launched by the ICAR to promote natural farming among the farmers.Farmers are guided on preparation of natural farming formulations such asJeevamrit,Beejamrit,Ghanjeevamrit,Neematra,Agniastra,Brahmastra etc. and use them in their fields for increasing their fields soil fertility and produce the safe and healthy food.
Majority of the area of J&K is rainfed and have dryland type conditions. This rainfed hilly area should be the target to be covered under natural farming in the broader sense due to already low consumption of agro-chemicals. However, within this area potential pockets have been identified to start with natural farming in mission mode. Detailed survey will be conducted for identification of areas suitable for natural farming within the region.Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir is a vast region endowed with multiple climates ranging from sub-tropical to temperate. It is predominantly hilly region and has numerous indigenous styles of agriculture. However, the proper documentation of such practices is rare. Documentation of such traditionalpractices is important and will give an insight into the type of natural systems that would be suitable for the region. KVKswill collect such data in detail from the respective zones of the distt.which will help to expand the area under natural farming.A step wise approach (pilot basis) is recommended to implement the natural farming practices in the selected areas.Appropriate policy framework and package of practices are needed to increase the adoption of natural farming in J&K. Institutional mechanism is also needed to promote the Natural Farming in J&K. The farmers of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir can tap the opportunity of growing demand of natural farming products. Keeping the importance of organic products in view there is need to shift from chemical to natural farming.
(The writer is Chief Scientist & Head of KVK Reasi, SKUAST-J)
