Jammu and Kashmir has long been an agrarian society, with farming sustaining millions of people for generations. However, recent government data reveals a troubling trend—agricultural land is shrinking, while more land is being abandoned or turning barren.
Data from the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K reveals that the net sown area has stagnated at around 30-31% of the total land over the last four years. In 2020-21, it was 736,000 hectares, dropping slightly to 733,000 hectares in 2022-23, before rising marginally to 738,000 hectares in 2023-24.
Meanwhile, fallow land—land left uncultivated—has increased from 120,000 hectares in 2020-21 to 135,000 hectares in 2023-24.
The rise in barren and uncultivable land, from 295,000 hectares to 302,000 hectares, further signals that farming is under strain. Data reveals that fertile agricultural land is increasingly being converted into residential areas, commercial projects, and roads. The land put to non-agricultural use rose from 214,000 hectares in 2020-21 to 215,000 hectares in 2023-24.
Erratic weather patterns, including unpredictable rainfall, droughts and untimely snowfall, have disrupted farming cycles. “Our streams are drying up, and without proper irrigation, crops fail,” said farmers in north Kashmir when asked about the trend.
Meanwhile, experts warned that if the trend continues, the UT may become heavily dependent on food imports. “The government must introduce sustainable farming programmes, improve irrigation and create better market access for farmers,” said Dr Mir Tariq, an agricultural expert.
He said climate change has significantly altered traditional farming patterns in J&K. “Erratic rainfall and water shortages are making it difficult for farmers to sustain their crops. Without strong climate-resilient strategies, agricultural productivity will continue to decline,” he said.
The depleting water levels in Jhelum and other rivers due to glacial melt and climate change have worsened irrigation issues.
In districts like Bandipora and Baramulla, once-thriving paddy fields are now left dry, forcing farmers to either abandon their land or switch to less water-intensive but lower-value crops—(KNO)
