Cropping Pattern in Kashmirshodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/3378/10/10_chapter 6.pdf · The cropping pattern plays a vital role in determining the level of agricultural

Chapter 6 Cropping Pattern

183

CHAPTER - 6

CHANGES IN CROPPING PATTERN

The cropping pattern of a region reveals the proportion of area of land

under different crops at a point of time, the rotation of crops and the area

under double cropping1. The cropping pattern changes in space and time. In

fact, no cropping pattern can be good and ideal for all times to come.2

The cropping systems of a region are decided by and large, by a number

of soil and climatic parameters which determine overall agro-ecological setting

for nourishment and appropriateness of a crop or a set of crops for cultivation.

Nevertheless, at the farmer’s level, potential productivity and monetary benefits

act as guiding principles while opting for a particular crop/cropping system3.

These decisions with respect to choice of crops and cropping systems are

further narrowed down under the influence of several other forces related to

infrastructure facilities, socio-economic factors and technological

developments, all operating interactively at micro-level4.The prevalent

cropping system of any locality is, therefore, the cumulative result of the past

and present decisions by individuals, communities or governments and their

agencies.

The cropping pattern plays a vital role in determining the level of

agricultural production and reflects the agricultural economy of an area/region.

A change or shift in cropping pattern implies a change in the proportion of area

1 Majid Hussain, Geography of Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: Rawat Publications, 2003), p.

137. 2 Ibid.

3 P. Das, Cropping Pattern (Agricultural and Horticultural) in Different Zones, their Average

Yields in Comparison to National Average/ Critical Gaps/Reasons Identified and Yield Potential (New Delhi : Indian Council of Agricultural Research), pp. 33-4.

4 Ibid. The factors are: Infrastructure facilities: Irrigation, transport, storage, trade and

marketing, post-harvest handling and processing etc. Socio-economic factors: Financial resource base, land ownership, size and type of land holding, household needs of food, fodder, fuel, fibre and finance, labour availability etc. Technological factors: Improved varieties, cultural requirements, mechanization, plant protection, access to information, etc.


184

under different crops which depends, to a large extent, on the facilities

available to raise crops in the given agro-climatic setting. Moreover, the

natural, social, economic and historical factors which determine the cropping

pattern of a region, the cropping pattern also changes in consonance with the

government policies and technological innovations especially in agriculture. It

is, however, pertinent to mention that in most of the areas it is the availability

of water more than any other input which determines the nature of agricultural

production. Cultivators in regions and localities without sources of water-

supply to supplement rainfall are constrained in their choices of cropping

patterns and have to suffer enforced adjustments when the rains are abnormal,

either in their timing or in their quantity. Hence the state of agriculture of a

region depends vitally upon the security and flexibility provided by irrigation

facilities.5

Characterised by mountainous and undulating terrain, the state of

Jammu and Kashmir has micro-level variations in the agro-climatic conditions.6

Consequently, the cropping patterns and crop combinations differ significantly

at the meso and micro levels. Despite the fact that the agro-climatic variations

supported different types of cropping patterns in the state, however, it was the

availability or unavailability of irrigation facilities which played a key role in

determining the cropping structure in the state. Not surprisingly, therefore, the

cropping pattern of the state had been dominated by paddy– the staple food of

the majority of the people- in those areas which had adequate irrigation

facilities and by other food crops like maize in the rain fed zones.

The peculiar physical character and climate has from times past been a

serious handicap to intensive farming and diversification of crops in the valley.

As the land remained under snow for 4-5 months a year, therefore, rice was the

5 Ian Stone, “Canal Irrigation and Agrarian Change: The Experience of the Ganges Canal

Tract, Muzzafarnagar District (U.P,) 1840-1900”, in David Ludden (ed.,) Agricultural Production and South Asian History (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, second edition, 2006), pp. 114-115.

6 Majid Hussain, Geography of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 15.


185

main kharif crop of the valley7. Moreover, the harvesting of the crop in

September-October left very little time for the sowing of another crop in the

same land and, therefore, Rabi crops were sown only in such lands as had not

been cultivated during the kharif season.8 The peasant of Kashmir had,

therefore, to subsist on one crop economy, either kharif or Rabi. Of all the Rabi

crops only such crops were sown which germinated before the snowfall and

started growing after the melting of the snow in the months of March and

April. Hence, it goes without saying that the Rabi crops which took 4-5 months

to mature in other parts of India took 5-6 months for the same in the valley of

Kashmir. The important Rabi and kharif crops grown in the valley were9:

Kharif crops: rice, maize, cotton, saffron, tobacco, millet, pulses

Rabi crops: wheat, barley, opium (poppy), rape, flax, beans

The peasantry of the valley of Kashmir, however, had lent themselves to

the cultivation of rice as the physical characteristics and climatic conditions of

the valley were conducive for rice culture while preventing intensive farming of

most other crops10. Also, rice had the greatest outturn per acre than any other

crop in the valley. While as 27 seers of wheat sown per acre yielded only two

kharwars of shali per acre, 22-24 seers of shali yielded 15 kharwars of shali per

acre11. As such rice accounted for three-fourth of the cultivable area under the

Sikh period and was the most important crop among food grains in terms of

value in the early Dogra period.12

7 R. L. Hangloo, Agrarian System of Kashmir (New Delhi: Common Wealth Publishers, 1995),

p. 12. 8

Walter R. Lawrence, The Valley of Kashmir (Srinagar: Gulshan publishers, 2002), pp. 325-330.

9 Hangloo, op. cit., p. 13.

10 Walter R Lawrence, Assessment Report of Baramulla Tehsil (Jammu: 1905), P. 9. 11 Charles Ellison Bates, A Gazetteer of Kashmir and the adjacent Districts of Kishtwar,

Badrawar, Jammu, Naoshera, Punch, and the Valley of kishenganga (Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, 1873; repr. (New Delhi: Light and Life, 1980), p. 55.

12 Hangloo, op. cit., pp. 17-26.


186

During the Dogra rule the cropping pattern of the state by and large had

a subsistence character. It was highly biased towards food crops with Paddy,

Maize and Wheat the three main crops accounting for about 73% of the total

area cropped in 1938-39. The table given below shows the pre-1947 cropping

pattern of the state:

Table 6.1

Total area sown under different crops

[Area in 000 acres]

Crop Year

1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

Rice 459 477 521 528 512 445

Wheat 578 524 587 587 528 205

Barley 68 67 68 65 63 54

Bajara 113 114 108 108 107 48

Maize 607 642 794 787 780 355

Other food grains including pulses

and millets

285 263 279 282 259 127

Oil seeds 100 119 138 103 133 66

Sugar cane 14 7 9 15 12 2

Total area cropped 2345 2340 2627 2601 2497 1593

Area cropped than once 422 350 388 370 366 37

Net area cropped 1923 1990 2239 2231 2131 1556

Source: State Agricultural Census 1970-71, Vol. I, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, p. 24.

From the above table, it is evident that the cropping pattern in the state

in pre-1947 era was dominated by food cereals, the maximum acreage in 1938-39

being under maize followed by wheat and rice. The reason for comparatively


187

less area under rice, which happened to be the staple crop of the overwhelming

majority of the people, was that rice cultivation needed assured water supply

whereas wheat and maize could be cultivated in dry areas as well. Also the table

clearly shows that total cropped area increased over the years but there was

almost no appreciable increase in the area sown more than once.

The pattern of cropping reversed with the partition of the state. Most of

the area which came under the occupation of Pakistan was under wheat and

maize cultivation13. After 1947 the endeavours of the State government to

transform the traditional agriculture into a modern one combined the

institutional and technological reforms thereby, liberating the agriculture of

the state from the shackles of stagnation. Besides the institutional reforms

which secured the position of the peasant, the introduction of high yielding

variety seeds and fertilizers plus the provisions of assured irrigation gave a

boost to the agricultural growth of the state. However, it needs a mention that

owing to the topography and agro-climatic conditions the impact of the

technological changes was not uniform everywhere in the state and the

cropping pattern of the valley was not as elastic as in the plains of India14. No

doubt that the cropping pattern of the valley could not respond to the changes

in technologies to the extent seen in other parts of India and notwithstanding

the various other factors Viz. Infrastructural developments, such as the

construction of roads, bridges, and the development irrigation infrastructure

which supported the shift in cropping pattern of the state in favour of certain

commercial crops, but nevertheless, it is important to mention here that the

technological innovations15 had the most profound impact on the cropping

pattern of the state. Furthermore, it would not be out of place to mention that

the commercialization of agriculture and cropping pattern enjoyed a

13

N.S Gupta and Singh Amarjit, Agricultural Development of states in India, Vol. 1: Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: Seema Publications, 1979), p. 126.

14 M.K. Dhar, Study of Agricultural Development in Jammu and Kashmir State, 1970-1984, Sher-

i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, 1986, p. 29. 15

For more details refer to the chapter ‘Technological Changes in Agriculture’.


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complementary relationship in the state after 194716. With the introduction of

new technologies while as the cereal output had shown a higher growth, non-

cereal crops and allied farm activities also recorded improvements. To capture

and analyse the impact of the different factors Viz. technological changes,

institutional reforms and infrastructural developments on the cropping pattern,

the post-1947 period has been divided into three phases. The First Phase also

referred to as the Pre-New Agricultural Strategy phase, covers the period

between 1951-52 and 1965-66. The second phase also referred to as the Post-New

Agricultural Strategy Phase started with the introduction of the new

technologies or with the adoption of the new Agricultural strategy by the state,

covered the period between 1966-67 and 1986-87. The Third Phase covers the

whole period between 1951-52 and 1986-87 to get the overall picture of the

change in cropping pattern during the period of study. It is pertinent to

mention here that the choice of the reference period has been mainly

influenced by the availability of comparable data. Moreover, there were no

marked changes in the agricultural production conditions between 1987-88 and

1996-9717. The following table [4.2] highlights the changes in the area under

different crops in Jammu and Kashmir under the different phases:

16

For Details See the Chapter ‘Commercialization of Agriculture’. 17

Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, p. 129, August, 1998.


189

Table 6.2

Percent change in Area under Different Crops in Jammu and Kashmir

Item/Crop Between 1951-52

and 1965-66

Between 1966-67

and 1986-87

Between 1951-52

and 1986-87

Paddy 32.70 19.19 67.92

Wheat 112.50 47.82 230.55

Maize 70.00 20.41 92.66

Other cereals 06.66 -20.83 -15.55

Total cereals 58.92 23.62 95.30

Pulses -36.45 -10.00 -13.46

Total Food Grains 51.25 21.30 83.47

Fruits and Vegetables 46.66 150.00 266.66

Oil seeds 56.00 51.28 136.00

Other Non-food -68.13 09.67 -80.11

Total non-food items -68.87 32.85 -52.55

Total Cropped Area 16.98 25.76 48.76

Area sown more than once 92.75 119.12 331.88

Net Sown Area 08.54 07.06 17.25

Source: Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, 1998.

Pre-New Agricultural Strategy Phase: 1951-52 to 1965-66

(Phase – I)

Though this was primarily the Phase of institutional reforms but this

period also witnessed the development of irrigation infrastructure in the state.18

During this phase there was a marked shift in the cropping pattern in favour of

food grains. In fact the cropping pattern during this Phase was heavily

dominated by food crops and about 77% of the working population was

involved in food production19. The following table depicts the cropping pattern

of the state during the Phase:

18

For details on Irrigation see the chapter ‘Development of Irrigation Infrastructure’. 19

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, 1968, op. cit., p. 18.


190

Table 6.3

Cropping Pattern of Jammu and Kashmir

[Three yearly average -1962-63 t0 1964-65]

Jammu and Kashmir India

Area [‘000 ha] Per cent Per cent

Principal cereals

Rice 226.5 26.8 22.7

Wheat 179.5 21.2 8.6

Maize 245.0 29.1 2.9

Barley 17.0 2.1 1.8

Total principal cereals 668 79.2 36

Secondary cereals

Jowar 0.5 0.06 11.5

Bajra 25.5 3.0 7.1

Small Millets 19.0 2.2 2.9

Other cereals --- ---- 1.7

Total cereals 713.0 84.5 59.2

Pulses

Gram 3.0 0.4 5.9

Other Pulses 48.0 5.6 9.4

Total Pulses 51.0 6.0 15.3

Total Foodgrains 764.0 90.5 74.5

Oil seeds

Sesamum 8 0.9 1.6

Rapeseed and mustard 26 3.1 1.9

Linseeds 10 1.2 1.3

Other oilseeds ------ ----- 4.6

Total oilseeds 44.0 5.2 9.4

Cotton 1.0 0.13 5.1

Tobacco 1.0 0.13 0.3

Sugarcane 3.0 0.4 1.5

Potato 1.0 0.13 0.3

Chillies 1.0 0.13 0.4

Total of crops given above 815 96.6 91.5

Total cropped area 843.4 100 ---

Net Sown Area 697 --- -----

Area sown more than once 145.7 --- -----

Double cropped area as per cent to

N.S.A

20.9 --- 15.1

Source: Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, 1969. P. 186


191

From the above table it is clear that during this Phase food grains

constituted about 90.5% of the total cropped area while as at the all Indian level

food grains constituted only 74.5% of the total cropped area. Moreover, it is

amply clear that the cropping pattern was dominated by the principal cereals

constituting about 79.2 % of the total cropped area whereas the same

constituted only 36% of the total cropped area at all Indian level.

Furthermore, the table 4.2 clearly reflects the shift in favour and against

different crops in the state during the period 1951-52 and 1965-66. The area

under the three main food cereals, paddy, wheat and maize increased by 32.7,

112.50 and 70 percent respectively but the area under all non-food items and

pulses declined. The area under cereals as a percentage of gross cropped area

recorded an increase of 22.16 percentage points and the area sown more than

once increased by 92.75%. The extent of double cropping in other districts of

the valley was very small.20 While the production of paddy increased by 7.59%,

the percentage shares of paddy production declined by 9.53 percentage points

and that of maize by 0.19 points, however, wheat recorded an increase of 11.54

percentage points21.

The appreciable increase in the area under food crops in the absence of

new technologies [HYV seeds, Inorganic Fertilizers etc] seemed to be strange

and could be explained on the basis of the increase in population and

improvement in the living conditions of the people. The people who earlier

used to survive on inferior food crops because of their inability to cultivate the

main food crops, like rice, especially on account of the unavailability of

irrigation facilities and/or had no power to purchase the superior quality crops

had shifted towards the consumption and cultivation of superior and market

oriented crops. This had led to an increase in the demand for superior quality

20

Ibid. 21

M.L. Misri and Bhat M.S, Poverty, Planning and Economic Change in Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd, 1994), p. 76.


192

and greater quantity of food grains.22 Also, it is an established fact that

irrigation does not increase agricultural production only by breaking up virgin

lands, but also by promoting transfer of resources to superior or more valuable

crops.23 The area under food grains expanded, seemingly, at the cost of pulses

and other non-food items which showed a decreasing trend during this phase

[see table 4.2]. Moreover, the state programme of Grow-More-Food led to the

reclamation of large tracts of land which were also brought under the

cultivation of food grains, thereby, increasing the percentage of area under food

cereals. Although the cropping pattern was dominated by food crops yet the

state was deficient in food grains and had to import large quantities of food

even in 196124. In comparison to wheat and maize the area shift towards paddy

was insignificant, the main reason being that some of the paddy lands were

diverted to fruit cultivation particularly in the valley as the orchards were

exempted from ceiling laws. According to the Land Commission Report, 1968;

about 26,064 acres of paddy land in the state were converted into orchards,

seed farms, vegetable farms and other cash crops in 1962, thereby, increasing

the area under fruits and vegetables by 46.66%25. However, despite these

conversions the area under commercial crops remained only about 5% of the

cropped area and as a result of this cropping pattern, a bulk of the cultivators

had little income which consequently led to the poor development of agro-

based industries resulting in low income of the bulk of the population.26

22

N. S. Gupta, op. cit., pp. 127-29. 23

M. Mufakharul Islam, Irrigation Agriculture and the Raj: Punjab, 1887-1947 (New Delhi: Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 1997), pp. 140-41.

24 Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 161.

25 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Report of the Land Commission, 1968, Table No. 22, P.

141. 26

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., pp. 161-62.


193

Post- New Agricultural Strategy Phase: (1966-67—1990)

(Phase – II)

Compared to the Phase-I the percent increase in the area under the

three major cereals (paddy, wheat, and maize) was less during the Second

Phase. Area under paddy increased by 19.19 percent and that of wheat and

maize by 47.82 and 20.41 percent respectively and the area under all non-food

items increased by 32.85 percent whereas the area under pulses declined by 10

percent as against 36 percent decline during Phase-I [see table 4.2]. The greater

shift of area towards wheat and maize production was because of the

technological breakthrough which brought about spectacular enhancement in

productivity of these two crops.27 Area sown more than once showed a sharp

gain of 119.12% and the Net Sown Area increased by 7.06% [see table 4.2].

However, out of the Net Sown Area of 7.03 lakh hectares during 1988-89, less

than 3.30 lakh hectares (47%) were sown more than once. The percentage of

the Net Sown Area, sown more than once, varied from district to district, with

Jammu and kathua having almost whole of the Net Sown Area sown more than

once. In the valley the districts of Pulwama, Anantnag and Budgam had 55%,

31% and 25% respectively of the Net Sown Area sown more than once.28The

extent of double cropping in the other districts was very small.29 Though

cereals dominated the cropping pattern of the state, the area under cereals as a

percentage of gross cropped area recorded a decline of 1.40% and the state

continued to be deficient in food grains and the deficiency was met through

imports from the Indian plains30. However, despite the great population

pressure the dependence on the import of food grains was held under control

as the productivity and the production of the major food grains increased due

27

N. S. Gupta op. cit., p. 131. 28

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 1989-90, Department of Planning and Development, p. 18.

29 Ibid.

30 M. L Misri op. cit., P. 76.


194

to the introduction of new techniques of cultivation.31 Along with orchard

growth, vegetable farming in the state also registered high growth and the area

under the two recourses increased by 144%.32 The area under orchards in the

valley increased from 23 thousand hectares in 1965-66 to 169965 hectares in

1988-89,33 the additional area under these activities being mainly the karewas

and marginal lands.34 During this phase, in certain areas the farmers switched

over from cereal cultivation to fruit cultivation in consideration of higher

earnings,35 thereby, giving a commercial orientation to the cropping pattern in

the valley.36 It is pertinent to mention here that the percentage of the area

under fruits and vegetables as shown in the state reports is misleading as it

includes only those orchards which stand recorded in the girdawari and

excludes newly established lands37 The state incentives and assistance in

various forms like provisions of pesticides, transport, and cold storage facilities

to ensure disease free maturation and delivery of fruits in various markets

played a key role in the diversion of cereal and other lands to orchards38

Although this Phase witnessed the introduction of the new high yielding

variety of seeds, use of fertilizers and pesticides, yet the shift in favour of food

cereals was not as marked as it was during the First Phase .This might be due to

the fact that large scale shift of acreage towards food crops had already taken

place (Phase-I) and when the new agricultural strategy came onto the scene

31

Despite high population growth the state imported only 2.04 lakh tonnes of food grains in 1982-83 as against 2.03 lakh tonnes during 1977-78, See Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 1973-84, Department of Planning and Development, pp. 22 -23.

32 M. L. Misri, op. cit. p. 77.

33 Based on the information collected from the Department of Horticulture, Government of

Jammu and Kashmir, 34

M. L Misri, op. cit., p. 77. 35

Ibid. 36

Nissar Ali, Panorama of Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: Rima Publishing House, 1992) p. 46.

37 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 1987-88,

Department Planning and Development), p. 20 38

Misri M L, op. cit., p. 77.


195

there was not much scope left for similar conversion.39 Moreover, unlike the

Jammu division which procured hybrid and high yielding varieties from similar

regions of the India, the Kashmir division felt dearth of location specific

varieties for different agro-climatic zones.40 Also the green revolution41which

began in mid-1960s in India remained confined to the revolution in wheat

cultivation; hence paddy which was the principal crop of the valley could not

witness a large scale shift of area towards it. Nevertheless, during this phase

owing to the evolution of short duration and high yielding varieties having

large oil content the cultivation of oil seeds came up as a second crop in the

irrigated paddy lands in the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama of the

valley and Jammu and Kathua of the Jammu division, thereby decreasing the

import of oil and oil seeds from outside the state42. Rape and Mustard emerged

as the main oil seed crops, mustard being found remunerative on the paddy

lands of Kashmir on which it was cultivated as winter crop.43 The cultivation of

fodder assumed a respectable position in the cropping pattern of the state

during this phase. It constituted 3% of the Net Sown Area of the state, 17% in

the valley, 15% in Ladakh and 68% in Jammu. Also 67% of the fodder area in

the state was irrigated in the year 1985 which was the highest after rice and oil

seeds only. It gained ground and the farmers of Jammu and kathua cultivated it

for commercial purpose.44 During this Phase, owing to high returns from the

lands under saffron cultivation, the government made a drive to extend the

cultivation of the crop to districts other than Pulwama, however, the project

39

N.S Gupta, op. cit., p. 127. 40

For more details see the Chapter ‘Technological Changes in Agriculture.’ 41

The Green Revolution which began in the mid 1960’s is the name given to the first systematic attempt to increase agricultural production, particularly that of food grains, in India and some other developing countries by applying new technologies of cultivation. It is based on biochemical innovations that include high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. For more details see technological changes in agriculture.


Department of Planning and Development, pp. 21-24. 43

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 1984-85, Department of Planning and Development, pp. 23-24.


Department of Planning and Development, p. 20.


196

could not succeed to considerable extent and the excitement regarding the

expansion of saffron cultivation cooled down and the area continued to

stagnate at less than 4000 hectares in 1987.45

Phase- III: 1951-52 and 1989-90

This Phase highlights the changes in the cropping pattern of the state

since the end of the Dogra rule and presents the overall picture of the cropping

pattern of the state, the impact of institutional and technological changes,

between 1951-52 and 1987-88. During this Phase cereals, particularly wheat,

fruits and vegetables were the major gainers in the percentage share of the

gross cropped area but the non-food items and pulses were the losers. The

percentage share of the total non-food items declined from 28.44% in 1951-52 to

0.97% in 1986-8746 and the cropping intensity increased from 111.3 in 1951-52 to

129.5 in 1986-87 showing an increase of 18.37% during the phase47. Area,

production and productivity of paddy increased by 67.92%, 273.83% and 121.33%

respectively and the area, production and productivity under maize a increased

by 92.66%, 321%, and 119% respectively whereas for wheat the respective

changes were 230.55%, 381.81% and 50%48. Area sown more than once

exhibited impressive gain all along the reference period and the area under

cereals as a percentage of gross cropped area (GCA) increased from 61.83% in

1951-52 to 81.17% in 1986-87 and the same trend continued thereafter49. The

changes during the Phase signify that there was a diversion from cereal

economy to market economy which was a healthy sign for the development of

the economy. With the transportation revolution, it became possible to import

large quantities of food and oil and export fruits from the valley to India. The

spurt in the growth of horticultural activities is caused by a variety of factors.

45

Economic Review, 1987-88, op. cit., p. 20. 46

M. L. Misri, op. cit., p.76. 47

Ibid. p. 94. 48

Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, 1998, Table 8-12, P. 457.

49 Misri, op. cit., p. 76.


197

Hill slopes, marginal lands, culturable wastes, pastures, forest land and some

other land under major crops like maize and paddy were converted into

orchards. Over the time the shifts in cropping pattern had taken place and area

under various crops like wheat, buck wheat, and other coarse cereals had

shrunk. The obvious inference is that all this land had been converted into

orchards either wholly or partially. It has been hypothesised that one of the

major causes of the growth of orchards lay in the inherent flaws in the agrarian

reforms which exempted the orchardists from the preview of the land ceiling

limits and that large farmers converted their land under cereal crops into

orchards to evade ceiling laws, however, the assumption is not being

substantiated by statistics50. Nevertheless, it is pertinent to mention that the

government policy of making the state self sufficient in food cereals had acted

as an impediment in way of the growth of horticultural sector, diversion of land

from food crops to commercial crops especially apple was not allowed, which

had great potential and significance. Regarding this policy of the state the

Development Committee Report, 1975, mentions51:

The state need not strive necessarily for self sufficiency in food grains.

Cropping pattern should aim at making the best use of the available land

and outputs, self sufficiency in food grains as a result of higher output per

unit of land and per worker should certainly be welcomed and worked for

but there is no necessary merit in achieving it by raising food grains on an

area which could generate higher incomes by raising fruit, mulberry, or

any other cash crop.

Though the area under the food cereals increased but it is strange that

area under the rice which is the staple food of the state had risen at the lowest

rate during the period showing that rice lost its popularity in the state during

this phase.

50

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, 1998, P. 149.

51 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Report of the Development Review Committee, Jammu

and Kashmir, Part V: Agriculture and Irrigation (Jammu: Government Press Jammu, February 1977), P.3.

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