Land under horticulture increases so does production in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 28 : Contrary to alarming trend of using agriculture land for non-agriculture purposes during the past one decade, the area under horticulture has witnessed an increase of 3.55 per cent in the Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir is basically an agrarian economy and almost 45 per cent of the economic returns in agriculture sector is accounted for by horticulture, showing its growing importance in economy of the state, which has vast potential for growing all kinds of fruits.

Official reports here said the horticulture department had decided to provide assistance of Rs 2.75 crore to farmer, for purchase of machinery alone in Kashmir division.

Besides, the department had improved the strategy for assisting in arranging plant protection and allied machinery under different Centrally Sponsored schemes.

For the first time the department had launched the availability of plant protection and allied machinery in such a manner that the farmer was at liberty to choose item of his choice from any distributor and dealer of the company and negotiate rates with him personally.

The records show that about 12.12 per cent total land in the state has been put to non agriculture uses, including construction of residential colonies, shopping complexes, workshops, government offices and educational institutions.

Interestingly the area under horticulture has witnessed an increase of 3.55 per cent.

Against total land of 305621 hectares under fruit production in 2008-09, only 295141 hectares was under horticulture during 2007-08.

Similarly there has also been an increase of 3.35 per cent in fruit production in 2008-09 against previous year.

According to data available with the Directorate of horticulture, during the year 2008-09, the department has covered an area of 3.06 lakh hectares out of which Kashmir division accounted for 67.18 per cent and Jammu division 32.82 per cent.

Source: New Kerala.
Link: http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-94.html.