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Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir
Hon'ble Minister for
Agriculture Production |
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Mr. Javed Ahmed Dar Hon'ble Minster of State for Agriculture, Horticulture & Floriculture |
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Background
Department of Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir State came into existence during
the pre-independence era. Till the year 1981 there was a single Directorate of Agriculture
for the whole State. The Department was assigned specific mandate to bring about
increase in crop production in a planned way to feed its fast growing population.
In the year 1981-82, separate Directorates of Agriculture were established for both
Jammu as well as Kashmir Divisions due to diverse agro-climatic conditions prevailing
in these Divisions. This facilitated formulation of policies and programmes aimed
at optimization and rational utilization of land and water resources for sustained
agricultural production.
To provide Research and Technology Development the Government of Jammu & Kashmir
established Two Agriculture Universities in the State each at Jammu & Kashmir.
Physiography
Jammu Division is located between an altitude of 300 meters
and 4200 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL).
Ranbirsingh Pura in Jammu district and Sumcham (Padder) in Doda district are the
lowest and highest permanent settlement points for human population. Settlement
pattern is mostly gregarious. Human population of the Division as per Census 2001 is 43.96
lacs. In Physiography , following broad physical divisions are generally recognized
from agricultural point of view :
1)Subtropical Zone:
It spreads between an altitude of 300 meters and 1000 meters
above MSL and enshrines Jammu district as a whole and parts of Kathua, Udhampur
and Rajouri districts. This zone is characterized by hot summer, heavy summer monsoon
and relatively dry but pronounced winter with pre-ponderance of alluvial soils.
Normal summer monsoon ranges between 1200 to 1500 mm from mid June to mid September.
This zone is further divided into two sub zones comprising the following areas
Irrigated Sub-tropical Zone:
It includes irrigated areas of Kathua, Barnoti, Hiranagar, Ghagwal,
Samba, Vijaypur, Purmandal, Satwari, Bishnah, R.S. Pura, Marh & Bhalwal, Blocks
on the right hand side of Jammu -Pathankot National Highway and Akhnoor, Khour,
Nowshera, and Sunderbani Blocks on the Jammu - Poonch Highway
Un-irrigated Sub-tropical
Zone:
It includes Kandi and un-irrigated areas of Kathua,
Barnoti, Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Samba & Purmandal to the left hand side of Jammu-Pathankot
National Highway and Bhalwal, Akhnoor, Khour and parts of Kalakot, Nowshera and Sunderbani
Blocks on Jammu
-Poonch Highway and Ramban in Doda district
Most of the canal irrigation system being located in the Sub tropical zone, production
and productivity of crops is high in this zone. The aromatic rice crop "Basmati"
is also a specialty of the RS Pura, Bishnah, Satwari and Marh blocks of this zone
and has high export value.
2) Intermediate Zone:
This zone
is located between an altitude of 1000 meters
and 1500 meter above MSL. It consists of some
parts of Basholi, Billawar, Ramnagar, Udhampur, Reasi, Pouni, Chenani ,Panchari,
Ghordi, Mahore, Gool and large area of Kalakot, Budhal, Rajouri, Doda Darhal, Thathri,
Balakot, , Ramsoo, Assar, Bhagwah, Ramban, Mahore, Mendhar, Poonch, Gordi, Panchari
and Manjakot Blocks within the said altitude.
Barring some Blocks of Doda district i.e. Doda, Bhagwah,
Assar and Ramban and some Blocks of Udhampur district i.e Mohre, Gool & Pouni
which are drought prone, this zone has mild summer, fair monsoon during summer and
relatively wet winter. Soils are spodosolic, undulating and prone to erosion.
Due to fair degree of monsoon and relatively wet & cool winters this zone has
a fairly good level of productivity of Maize and Vegetable crops. In respect of
Maize, an exceptionally high level of productivity (i.e.102 qtl/ha.) was obtained
by a farmer in Rajouri district.
3) Temperate Zone:
This zone includes all other areas of Jammu Division which are located above 1500
meters altitude. Of special mention are the Blocks of Warwan, Marwah, Dachhan, Chhatru,
Paddar, Kishtwar, Thathri, Bhaderwah, Banihal, Mendhar, Manjakot, Bani, Basohli
and parts of Bhagwah, Assar, Gool-Gulabgarh, Mahore, Dudu-Basantgarh, Darhal, etc.
This zone is characterized by relatively mild but dry summer with
little monsoon and fairly cold- wet winter due to the 'Western Weather Disturbances'.
It is mostly a mono-cropped zone with low production & productivity. However,
other agriculture enterprises like pomology, apiculture & animal/sheep husbandry
are very common and rather supplement the modest agricultural income obtained through
arable farming. The area is also suitable for seed production of temperate vegetable
crops. Saffron ( Crocus sativus ) , possessing innumerable medicinal and aromatic properties
is grown in the Kishtwar plateau of Doda district in an area of about 60 ha. Rajmash
(Phaseolus vulgaris) possessing flavour and organo-leptic qualities having high
market potential is also widely grown in the higher altitudes of this zone.
Climate:
Division has a varied climate. Whereas it is hot in the sub-tropical belt during
summer months, it is dry and cool in winter months. Intermediate zone has a mild
climate both during summer as well as during winter. But in the temperate zone,
whereas summer is mild and dry, winter is extremely cold & wet due to heavy
snowfall
| Disclaimer: The information
put on this web site is obtained from our field agencies and
other sources. The Department is not responsible for any error
or invalid data crept into inadvertently or otherwise. It is our sincere
request that any error or discrepancy if noticed may kindly be brought to the
attention of the department for its immediate rectification on
our e-mail id :agrijammu@rediffmail.com. |