Work out a solution
Winter season that too coupled with road blockade due to various reasons makes us realize that how important it is for us to resort to self reliance. Be it our daily requirement of food or other essentials we need to be on the lookout to help us sustain on our own production in various sectors.
Kashmir valley is mainly dependent on its supplies from various parts of the country as the area has proven itself to be a consumer region rather than a producing one. For our daily needs like fruits and vegetables and other eatables we have left ourselves on the mercy of outside states as we imports around three lakh metric ton vegetables alone every year.
The past few years, especially the last decade has put up a harsh fact that we are increasing our dependency for essential commodities on outside supplies. This includes vegetables and fruits besides mutton, poultry, rice, flour and other products.
Going by the pace of imports and increased demand of supplies every year experts believe that in 2025 the demand of vegetables in Kashmir would get doubled than what was the requirement in 2000.
Despite the mammoth import of vegetables to Kashmir the per capita availability of vegetables is less than the prescribed requirement of 200 grams per person per day. This means that if the health consciousness among the people in the valley rises, the imports will witness a quantum jump and thereby increasing our dependence too.
This will also lead to flight of cash as we will end up spending more on our food requirements.
Experts fear that the increasing dependency of vegetables on outside supplies is draining the economy. They attributed the rising imports of vegetables to conversion of farmland for non-farm purposes, increasing value of real estate assets and lack of facilities for farmers.
Besides, JK’s planning department and those connected with Agricultural activities are not laying enough thrust on increasing the local produce here. The farming sector is still practicing the age old techniques and no new or modern farming practices are being put into vogue in the Kashmir valley. Though some initiatives are being taken but the level of intervention is too small to yield any positive and fruitful results.
In addition no fresh farm land is being converted into multiple farming activity zones and no avenues for increasing the irrigational facilities to Karewas are being planned.
This is evident from the fact that the agriculture share to the state gross domestic product has declined by over 13 per cent over the years. Figures suggest that the share of agriculture and allied activities to GSDP has come down from 28.06 per cent in 2004-05 to around 14 per cent in 2017- 18.
The agricultural yield over the years has shown a decline as compared to other neighbouring areas. These states though being dependent on water from this region have been showing an upward trend in its agricultural output but we being a water resourceful region are not able to harness the potential on professional lines.
This situation calls for an alarm and the official machinery besides self help groups and the society at large needs to come out with some workable solutions to help tide over the crisis.
