Pulwama : In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, agriculture is more than a sector—it is a lifeline. Contributing over 78% to the region’s Gross Domestic Product and providing livelihood to more than 13 lakh families, the agriculture and allied sectors serve as the economic and social backbone of this predominantly agrarian society. With this understanding, the government has been proactive in rolling out a wide array of schemes and initiatives aimed at transforming and modernizing the sector while enhancing farmers’ income and resilience.
One of the cornerstone programs is the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), particularly under its RAFTAAR component, which emphasizes the creation of pre- and post-harvest infrastructure. This scheme is crafted to support farmers by improving supply chains, providing access to better market facilities, and addressing the diverse needs of the local agrarian community. It allows states flexibility to plan projects based on specific regional requirements. Complementing this is the Soil Health Card initiative, which guides farmers in the judicious use of fertilizers through scientific soil testing, thereby improving productivity while promoting sustainable practices.
Mechanization of agriculture, often a challenge in hilly terrains, is addressed through the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). This scheme provides subsidies for modern equipment and promotes Custom Hiring Centres and Machinery Banks to support small and marginal farmers. Efficient water use is promoted through the Per Drop More Crop scheme, which advocates micro-irrigation systems like drip and sprinklers and supports water conservation measures at the farm level.
To support farming in less irrigated areas, the Rainfed Area Development scheme encourages integrated farming systems, combining crop production with livestock, poultry, and beekeeping to stabilize income even during adverse climatic events. The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana promotes organic farming by blending traditional knowledge with modern science, aiming to enhance soil health and ensure food security while reducing dependence on chemical inputs. Similarly, the Sub-Mission on Agro-Forestry is enabling an increase in green cover, improvement in soil organic matter, and development of a sustainable agro-ecosystem.
Krishionnati Yojana, another major umbrella scheme, includes sub-missions such as SAME, which strengthens the agricultural extension system by operationalizing ATMA at the district level to empower farmers with knowledge and technology. The National Food Security Mission focuses on improving the production of staple crops like rice, wheat, pulses, and millets, while the National Mission on Edible Oils targets self-reliance by increasing oilseed production.
In recognition of beekeeping as a vital rural enterprise, the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission is being implemented to enhance honey production and promote pollination support for agriculture.
From the fiscal year 2024-25, the National Mission on Natural Farming is set to be rolled out, promoting chemical-free farming across 153 clusters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Risk management in agriculture is a priority, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides comprehensive crop insurance coverage, shielding farmers from losses due to unforeseen natural calamities.
Similarly, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana offers pension support to small and marginal farmers aged between 18 and 40 years, ensuring financial security post-retirement. Complementing these efforts is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, which directly transfers Rs. 6,000 annually into the bank accounts of eligible farmers, ensuring immediate financial assistance through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
In the horticulture sector, the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture has played a pivotal role since its launch in 2014-15. By supporting the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, spices, and even bamboo, the scheme has enabled the development of new orchards, rejuvenation of old ones, and better post-harvest management. The National Bamboo Mission is helping establish a value chain from bamboo growers to end consumers through a cluster-based approach.
Under the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme is transforming the food processing sector by adopting a One District One Product (ODOP) approach. With a focus on financial and technical support for setting up or upgrading enterprises, the scheme aims to enhance market access, product standardization, branding, and infrastructure development.
As of January 2025, 1,255 loans amounting to Rs. 67.98 crore have been sanctioned, with Rs. 38.09 crore disbursed across 843 cases, indicating strong uptake among local entrepreneurs.
A landmark initiative by the Agriculture Production Department is the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), designed to achieve sustainable and commercially viable farming practices. One of its key components is the production of designer hybrid plants to rejuvenate orchards across 5,500 hectares, reducing dependency on imports. Marketing infrastructure is being bolstered with CA stores, grading lines, and reefer vans. Another HADP project is the UT-level food processing program aimed at developing seven product-based clusters to enhance domestic and global market share. Efforts are also underway to significantly increase the CA storage capacity, with 37,250 MT expected to be added in the current year.
The High Density Plantation scheme is revolutionizing horticulture by bringing more area under intensive fruit cultivation, while market connectivity is being enhanced through the establishment of F&V markets in collaboration with NABARD. E-NAM integration has already brought 17 mandis online, facilitating over 16.87 lakh quintals of trade since 2020-21, and ensuring better price realization for farmers.
A forward-looking step in competitiveness is the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). This project focuses on market-led production, agri-business ecosystem development, and climate resilience, particularly targeting support for vulnerable farming communities.
Among the region’s unique and treasured crops, saffron holds a place of pride. The National Saffron Mission, launched in 2010-11, was a targeted intervention for economic revival of saffron cultivation in Kashmir. With a total project cost of Rs. 400.11 crore, the mission has rejuvenated 2,598.75 hectares of saffron fields so far, across Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar, with significant financial support from both the government and farmers.
