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With the help of high-density plantation technology,
3600-2500 plants are being planted per hectare
compared to 250 trees planted presently.

Zeera are also cultivated in some pockets accounts only for 0.66% of the total mul-
of the UT. This year, the robust agriculture berry silk production of India. Silk is an
sector of Jammu and Kashmir passed an in- elite product in itself and the government is
credible milestone as around 2000 trucks of rapidly addressing the issues of the people
vegetables were exported from Jammu and involved in the sericulture sector.
Kashmir to different parts of the country.
The UT remained at the top in the country Initiatives & Achievements
with a yield of 70 quintals for each hectare The available data depicts that both area
of paddy. The agriculture department is and production of horticulture crops seem
planning to convert over 60,000 hectares to be increasing simultaneously. The UT
of Basmati cultivation area into high-pro- and Central government has taken many
ductivity land. The statistics of the agri- initiatives towards market intervention
culture department reveal that area under such as the establishment of fruit mandies,
vegetable cultivation in the Kashmir region technological support and research exten-
has increased from 10,270 hectares (as per sion, provision of support price, awareness
a 1981 survey) to 31,250 hectares (2015 options, publicity inputs, and cold storage
survey). There has been a commendable facilities. The Department of horticulture
increase in production from about 200,000 provides assistance to the farmers for the
tons in 1981 to 800,700 tons in 2015. economic development of the horticul-
ture sector in UT under various centrally
A small hamlet, Bogam, located on the bor- sponsored schemes as well as the CAPEX
der of Pulwama and Budgam districts is budget.
known as “mini Punjab” for its high-quality
vegetables. Besides meeting local demands, The department provides incentives for the
trucks loaded with vegetables from the vil- establishment of new orchards, plant pro-
lage and its adjoining areas reach various tection machinery, horticulture mechani-
cities in north India changing the fortunes zation, protected cultivation, pollination
of the villagers. The village produces fresh support, pack houses, hi-tech nursery es-
vegetables like green collards (haakh), cau- tablishment, etc. The department lays stress
liflower, brinjal, radish, capsicum, garlic, on the ultra-high-density plantations in the
cucumber, spinach, carrot, and different UT. With the help of high-density planta-
varieties of peas which are dispatched to lo- tion technology, 2500-3600 plants are being
cal mandis as well as outside the UT every planted per hectare compared to 250 trees
day. planted presently. There is potential for an
increase in the productivity of apples from
In J&K, Oil seeds have been sown over the present level of 12 metric tons to 30-40
1.10 lakh Ha of land. Kashmiri Lal Mirch metric tons per hectare through the intro-
is being harvested on 1182 Ha, Sweet Corn duction of a high-density plantation pro-
harvested on 165 Ha, while other exotic gramme.
vegetables have been harvested over 150 Ha The high-density plantations are expected
and farmers are getting massive returns out to make horticulture profitable through su-
of them. Similarly, sericulture (cultivation perior yields, higher yields per hectare, ear-
of silk) is widespread across the region. ly harvest, and introduction of insect and
As per the Sericulture Policy 2020 of J&K, pest-resistant varieties thereby saving the
the mulberry silk production in the UT expenditure on disease and pest control.

32 W W W . D I VA I N T E R N A T I O N A L . C H