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| Agriculture on decline in JK as 40% farmers give up farming | | | Arun Singh
Jammu, Feb 17: Notwithstanding the fact that that Agriculture is the important economic activity of the state but enormous declining interest in agriculture has been witnessed in last one decade as 40% of farmers have left the occupation so far.
As per state economic survey which reveals that in Census 2001 the there were 9.49 lakh cultivators in Jammu and Kashmir for whom the faming was the main occupation but this number drastically declined to 5.66 lakh in 2011 census. To be specific the percentage of cultivators to main workers lost around 15% between two Censuses (2001 -2011).
"A survey by National Sample Survey Office (2005) reveals that 41% of farmers in India want to leave agriculture if any other option was available because youths are not interested in agriculture. This is because agriculture is not economically rewarding and intellectually stimulating," it reads.
It further said that Agriculture is already over-laboured, warrants check and controls and the lower growth rate in agriculture and allied sectors in J&K is a major cause of concern from the point of view of inclusiveness and sustainability of development and accelerating growth.
The declining share of agriculture sector is a major cause of concern and gaps between demand and production of food grains in the state is on increase.
In another revelation on agriculture sector, the arable land is shrinking at a fast rate. The arable land has shrunk from 0.14 hectare per person in 1981 to 0.08 hectare in 2001 and further to 0.06 hectare in 2012. Such small holdings create problems in farm mechanization operations and make farming non - remunerative. Apart from population growth urbanization process leads to shrinkage in per capita arable land.
However, industrial development has its own limitations due to inherent mobility and communication problems yet development of agriculture and allied activities is the sole option in the state for its much needed development for addressing the aspirations and fulfilling the needs of people. However, agriculture alone cannot bear the burden of providing food and gainful employment to all the rural population due to small size of holding, commercialization, diversification, lack of adequate marketing facilities.
As far the work force is concerned it has not gainfully employed in agriculture and 65% of rural population is below 30 years of age as per 2001 Census. If suitable employment opportunities are not provided to the predominantly rural population it will encourage migration of rural population to urban areas. |
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