Epilogue

because there is more to know

www.epilogue.in CONTENTS

Letters to the editor 2

Editor in Chief Prologue 3
Zafar Choudhary

Consulting Editor News & Analysis

D. Suba Chandran
TOWARDS Party & Politics 7
Associate Editor
Irm Amin Baig FOOD SECURE Politics
Roots Of Conflict
Photo Division JAMMU, KASHMIR, LADAKH & Separatist Politics 35
J.P. Bandral

Designs & Layout

Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2008 Neighbours
Keshav Sharma
Bhutan 40
Executive Director Myanmar 41
Mohammad Yasmeen IN FOCUS
Food Security
Mailing Address Review
PO Box 50, HO Gandhi Nagar, Book 44
Jammu
Movie 47
11 Towards A Food Secure
Phones & email Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh
Editorial: +91 94191-80762 Columns
Administration:+91 9419631610 18 No Food Insecurity Beyond 2010 Tareekh 51
+91 9419000123
editor@epilogue.in Jest Ponder 53
21 Meeting Challenges in
subscription@epilogue.in Jammu Province

Edited, Printed and Published by Epilogue

25
Zafar Choudhary for CMRD
Publications and Communications 34
Published from ‘Ibadat’, Madrasa
Lane, Bhatindi Top, Jammu, J&K
Scenario in Kashmir, Ladakh
From the Consulting Editor 55
Availability, Accessibility
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Epilogue Ø
1×
April 2008

Letters
Mail your letters to editor@epilogue.in
Need some research on bureaucracy
The column on bureaucracy is a welcome
step and apart from being made a regular
event it should also be diversified to
include issues and challenges faced by
the bureaucracy, research into reasons of
regular drain of All-India Service Officers
from State to Centre; and service
condition prevailing there.
SHUCHISMITA SAXENA
Institute of Police Planning
Mumbai
Democracy in Pakistan
We are usually always interested in
watching the political developments in
Pakistan but do not have much idea of
how exactly things take shape there. The
recent elections were most keenly
watched activity. However, after
watching news channels and going
through press reports an idea could not
be obtained about the exercise.
Epilogue's March issue really lived up to
your signature statement “because there
is more to know”. It was an indepth
appraisal of Pakistan's political
structure. I believe, the magazine will
continue to serve as a source of
reference for years to come.
MIR MANZOOR AHMED
University of Kashmir
M A I L B O X
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
II
Democracy in neighbourhood (Pakistan
Elections; Epilogue, March 2008) will
certainly have visible impacts on the
Indo-Pak peace process and the various
issues have been presented in Epilogue in
a balanced way. It will be great if the
after-affects of the process are also
presented in subsequent issues
especially viz-a-viz J&K.
ARVIND SHARMA
University of Jammu
Right to Information (The RT I
Conundrum; Epilogue March 2008) has
seen light to the day but J&K State still
seems to lag far behind in practice.
Effective governance needs more
transparency for which RTI should be
strengthened in letter and spirit.
Political authority should not over-ride
the right to information on pretext of
democracy or so, RTI is not to undermine
but strengthen democracy.
MANDIP SINGH BRAR, IAS
Chandigarh
Salva Judam, despite a counter attack
Epilogue Ø
2×
April 2008
on Naxalites is slowly developing a
counter culture as well, which may
appear as a backlash. Some social
aspects of Salwa Judum are missing in
your article (Salwa Judam: A
Purification Hunt). The tribal culture is
bearing the brunt of this cross-fire
between Naxalism and Salva Judam.
SAMEER NARAYAN
Karba, Chhatisgarh
Epilogue is certainly emerging as a
statement of serious journalism and
research on Jammu and Kashmir but the
magazine still lacks a true
representative character. The Editor
must understand that all readers are
not very serious who would like such
heavy stuff. Undertake some efforts to
make, it least some section of it,
lighter. Also, there is need to add some
more pictures and graphics as often it is
too heavy on eye. The section on books
and movies is a welcome step some
more sections can be added on
personalities, places, art and culture.
SHAFIQ AHMED
Bhaderwah, Doda (J&K)

No Complacency Please
Zafar Choudhary
Securing food essentially makes the
bottom-line of every body's daily
struggle. Whatever ambitions and
aspiration in life there may be, food
security is perhaps the most
indispensable basis of carrying them on.
Jammu and Kashmir has long been mired
in conflict but the question of food has
never been a serious problem here as it
has been noticed in may other parts of
country like Maharashtra, Andhra
Pradesh and Bihar. Our farmers have
never been found in distress like many
other parts of the country –a
phenomenon which has been described
by many a men of wisdom as national
shame. The roots of this positive
situation can be traced in the pioneering
land reforms initiatives of the most
towering leader of this state Sheikh
Mohammad Abdullah way back in 1950s
which allowed almost everyone to have
the proverbial two square meals.
Unfortunately, the pathbreaking
agrarian policies of the 1950s seem to
have made the successive regimes
complacent and the state has not been
able to catch up with the desired growth
rate to meet the future challenges.
While with the given topography,
geographical advantage and climatic
conditions, Jammu and Kashmir should
have been a major agriculture produce
exporting state but the fact of the
matter is that the state still needs to
import the food grains to meet the local
requirements. If the latest official
statistics are any guide to go by, there is
an urgent need for policy shift and
scientific initiatives to boost the
production and make the agriculture an
inclusive and democratic movement
with grassroots participation. According
to the official statistics, against a
requirement of 10.35 lakh tones of grains
and 6 lakh tones of vegetables the
corresponding production is 6.7 lakh and
4.6 lakh tones, respectively. This means
P R O L O G U E
FROM THE EDITOR
there is a 40 per cent food grain deficit.
This calls for an urgent action as the
stunning growth in population and the
fast growing bad patterns of land use may
further worsen the situation. Our state
essentially has an agrarian economy.
There are not big industries or other
drivers of economic growth; therefore,
agriculture sector needs an all pervasive
attention. This becomes all more
important particularly when majority of
state's population depends on agriculture
in terms of livelihood and employment.
While more than 80 per cent of the state's
total population depends on agriculture
as a basic source of livelihood, this sector
engages 70 per cent of the work force.
Aptly planned to coincide the crop
harvesting season and festival of
Baisakhi, our present issue examines the
food scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. It is
a rare honour not only for this magazine
but also for our state, the globally
acclaimed father of green revolution Dr
MS Swaminathan has contributed the lead
essay on food security. Readers will agree
with me that there is hardly a better
opinion on the subject than that of Dr
Swaminathan. The state Agriculture
Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar, who has been a
part of six decade long democratic history
of state from being member of the
Constituent Assembly to Minister in the
present government, has laid down in
this issue the broad contours of policy.
Vi c e C h a n c e l l o r s o f J & K ' s t w o
Agriculture Universities, Prof Anwar
Alam and Prof Nagendra Sharma enlist
the activities and research at
institutional and farm level. Essentially
a tribute to the farming community, this
issue throws the question of vision and
policy for ensuring 100 per cent food
security in Jammu and Kashmir.
Feedback :
zafar.choudhary@epilogue.in
Epilogue Ø
3×
April 2008
Epilogue
because there is more to know
EPILOGUE aims at providing a
platform where a meaningful
exchange of ideas, opinion and
thoughts can take place among the
people and about the people of Jammu
& Kashmir. The attempt is to research,
investigate, communicate and
disseminate information, ideas and
alternatives for the resolution of
common problems facing the state and
society of Jammu & Kashmir and in
the context of their significance to
South Asia as a whole.
We welcome contributions from
academics, journalists, researches,
economists and strategic thinkers. We
would also like to encourage first-time
writers with the only requirements
being a concern for and the desire to
understand the prevailing issues and
themes of life in Jammu & Kashmir
Contributions may be investigate,
descriptive, analytical or theorectical.
They may be in the form of original
articles or in the form of a comment on
current events. All contributions have
to be neatly types in double space and
may be sent to the address given
alongside or e-mailed to the editor.
While the editor accepts responsibility
for the selection of the material
published, individual authors are
responsible for the facts, figures and
viess ithe tier articles.
 H E A R A N D H E A R

WHO SAID WHAT

“During my interactions with diplomats of various

countries, prominent persons and the media in America,
I apprised them of the ground situation in the valley but at
the same time felt the urgent need for working on the
diplomatic front to reach the world community,"

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman APHC(M)

“We suffered losses because of the Indus Treaty ‘'I heard for a long time that Kashmir sapphire is
otherwise we would be well placed financially to the best in the world, so I just wanted to come to
take care of all our fiscal problems” see”

Tariq Hameed Karra, Minister of Finance, J&K Thanain, a Resident of Bankok, at Sapphire auction in Jammu

“I tried a lot to make reforms within the party, but "Put up united front and do not count ego clashes
did not succeed…” you have with your party colleagues. It will harm
you and the party"
Former Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, who was expelled from the PDP

PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to his party workers

“HM Commander Mueen-ul- Islam express grief and
sympathy with the family of a civilian killed in the
blast"
A statement issued by Hizbul Mujahideen after Srinagar City blast
All the Chief Minister today asked ministers,
legislators and other leaders of the Congress party
in the State are advised not to issue statements or
speak in public about the subject of electoral
alliance of the Congress with any political party.

CM Ghulam Nabi Azad

"I have a purpose in attending this function…I want
to send a message to all the divisive forces that our
strength lies not in isolating the people or creating
divisions but embracing each other. For, secularism
alone can save this state and our great nation"
"We cannot bring our families and children every
time state government blocks our salaries. We
want solution but state government is simply
buying time and wasting previous time”

Dr Farooq Abdullah at a Shiv Sena function Shakeel Ahmad Kuchay, Chairman JKSRTC Workers Union

Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
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 N E W S & A N A L Y S I S
PARTY & POLITICS

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Delhi Bashing Doctrine Back In Business

F ormer Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah is on an extended New Delhi bashing spree to make the
right kind of noises ahead of assembly elections due later this year. Farooq's new political
posturing is apparently based on the doctrine that hurling invectives on Delhi pays in Kashmir with
electoral gains. His National Conference was a part of the BJP led NDA regime in Delhi with son Omar
as Minister of State for External Affairs. Now Farooq says that the BJP government inflicted worst
miseries on the Kashmiris. At a function in Jammu to honour the Padma awardees of J&K, Farooq
made the audience quite emotional for a while when he went on to explain that how New Delhi
always indulged in a policy of divide and rule. “In a careful design Jammu was pitted against
Kashmir and Ladakh against both”, said Farooq. “We were deliberately put into a state of
poverty…despite being rich in resources, we were made to beg for every penny which was rightfully
due to us”, he said while holding Delhi responsible for all ills of J&K. Had the audience taken
Farooq's words as final, there would have been a sudden uprising against Delhi. However, this did
not happen. Guess why?
..............
Omar Abdullah, the NC president, is on an extended mass contact program. Unlike the decade old precedence of kicking off campaigns
from Sher-e-Kashmir park of Srinagar, Omar has made beginning from a different end. For almost a quarter of March, he remained in
Kathua district addressing series of public meetings. Kathua district is significant for being gateway to Jammu and Kashmir. The
political observer, however, believe that Omar is wasting time in a place where National Conference has hardly anything to take home.
Kathua district has five assembly constituencies –presently all held by the Congress. In 1996, the NC could secure only one seat which
it lost in 2002.

PANTHERS PARTY CONGRESS

Sweeping the State? Wait and Watch!

T he rise of Panthers Party from
one seat in the state assembly
in 1996 to four in 2002 is still seen by
A mong the three lead players, the Peoples Democratic
Party and the National Conference have virtually
launched their poll campaign. Surprisingly, the Congress is
still maintaining a stoic silence. No big public meetings and
many political observers as an
no loud political statements. Go slow and watch the
accident. However, the party
situation –appears to be the mantra. Chief Minister Ghulam
chairman Bhim Singh is not ready to Nabi Azad addressed three major public meetings this
buy this idea as he believes that month but there was no party politics of the sorts. At one
Panthers Party is a 'largely place (Sopore) he took along the PDP's Muzaffar Hussain
acceptable political alternative' to Baig while at other two places he spoke about the
National Conference, Peoples achievements of government and not the party. Leaders and
Democratic Party and the Congress. workers too have been asked to keep a low profile. Since
The Panthers Party is these days keeping a low profile in the election year is difficult in
celebrating its Silver Jubilee and interestingly the celebration politics, the Chief Minister had to come up with a harsh
campaign took off from Srinagar. Except north Kashmir districts of public statement asking his partymen not to speak in the
possibilities of electoral arrangements to contest the next
Baramulla and Kupwara, the Silver Jubilee caravan touched almost
elections. Instead of issuing a circular among the party
all district headquarters of Kashmir Valley before descending down
leaders, the Chief Minister placed a statement in media
to the rugged terrains of Jammu Division. “We are getting an which reflected external pressures. Sources say that PDP
overwhelming support in entire state and the public mood is on our patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed his displeasure
favour…we are well saddled in a position to form the next over the public statements of the Congress leaders against
government”, says Bhim Singh. Amidst celebrations, there is an FIR alliance with his party forcing the Chief Minister to issue a
against a Panthers Party MLA for beating up his security guard. public statement.

Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
 N E W S & A N A L Y S I S
PARTY & POLITICS

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Clear mandate: the new ploy

I n a full blown poll campaign, the PDP chief

Mehbooba Mufti is asking people for a clear
mandate for the party finish its promised
Kashmir agenda. When Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed handed over power to Ghulam Nabi
Azad in 2005 under the power sharing
arrangement with Congress, the PDP had left
many promises halfway. Since then the
coalition government had a walk on the razor's
edge with PDP threatening day in and day out
to pull out of the coalition. Had the PDP pulled
out of the government in November 2005 and
asked the people for a clear mandate that
would have made some sense. It is tough for
the people to understand why clear mandate is
being sought now.

..............

T he cat is out of bag. Representing a north

Kashmir constituency, the former Minister
and an acclaimed co-founder of PDP, Ghulam
Hassan Mir traveled southwards in the home
district of Muftis for a cable television
interview. He said that Mufti were promoting
dynastic rule and the democratic space was
shrinking in the party. All said and done. In
next 24 hours, Mir was handed over the letter
of expulsion from the basic membership of the
party. Even though this proved the allegation
of shrinking democratic space, but Mir's
conspiring to assassinate party leader and Minister Dr Ghulam
expulsion has finally come as long over due and good
Nabi Lone.
riddance for both –the party and all the persons. That Mir is
a co-founder of PDP is far from facts. He joined the party Before his expulsion, Mir had lone been threatening of the
nearly two years after it was formed. In 2002, he slipped emergence of a 'Third Front' in association with CPI(M) and
away from hands of Muftis and closeted in the NC camp for a Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen of the PDF. However, the 'Third
party ticket from Tangmarg constituency which was claimed Front' noises are loosing strength ever since he is out of PDP.
by Sheikh Scion Dr Mustafa Kamal. Mir returned to PDP only The state unit of CPI(M) led by Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami is
when NC denied him ticket. Eventually he won and became not seen in a position to enter into any political arrangement
a Minister. Then he was a Mufti loyalist for next three years at its own; it has to be approved by the Politburo. As far as
till dropped from cabinet in 2005. Again declared revolt Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen is concerned, he is always into a
against leadership and went on publicly accuse Muftis of scheme of balancing act.

Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
 N E W S
PARTY & POLITICS
HURRIYAT CONFERENCE (M)
Mirwaiz wants to
internationalise Kashmir
O n the eve of Eid-Milad-un-Nabi, the
chairman of moderate faction of
Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq touched the Srinagar ground
after two months of foreign sojourn.
Few hours later he rushed to the historic
Jamia Masjid to deliver his Friday
sermons. The Mirwaiz appeared to have
returned home with fresh ideas. He said
that his party will launch a diplomatic
initiative to highlight the Kashmir issue
at the international level. "During my
interactions with diplomats of various
countries, prominent persons and the
media in America, I apprised them of the
ground situation in the valley but at the
same time felt the urgent need for
working on the diplomatic front to reach
the world community," he said. Mirwaiz
has recently attended the 11th
Organisation of Islamic Conference
(OIC) meet.
AWAMI NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Out of hibernation, with tough conditions
O n the political landscape of Kashmir, there is a sudden
rising out of two-decade long unexplained hibernation.
The Awami National Conference of former Chief Minister GM
Shah is making noises. Shah, son-in-law of Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah, had grabbed power in 1984 by toppling Dr Farooq
Abdullah government under the patronage of Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. After 18 months of accidental stint in power,
Epilogue Ø
& A N A L Y S I S
BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY
Managing votes
without votes
A s election fever slowly grips J&K,
the BJP is busy strengthening its
polling booth committees to avoid the
chances of rigging. Party's state
president Ashok Khajuriya claims that
BJP is fairly well in a position to play a
decisive role in formation of next
government if elections are free and
fair, therefore, “it is important to have
well trained cadres to keep an eye on
the polling booths”. True, but where
are voters? Khajuriya did not explain
this. In 1996, the BJP returned to the
state assembly with seven seats –all
three from Jammu city and four from
other areas. In 2002, when party was in
power at the Center, it lost all of them
though a young rustic returned to the
House defeating a scion of Dogra
dynasty. Since then the BJP has
undergone further vivisection but good
that it still hopes to play a role.
Shah has rarely been seen in the state politics except for his
“proposed Intra-Kashmir peace conference”. For 15 years now,
Shah has been releasing list of invitees –ranging from Prime
Minister of India to President of Pakistan and all and sundry from
each side of divide –every year but then the confab is put off for
reasons known only to him.
The conference idea, though, still remains live Shah has
announced revival of his Awami National Conference and declared
participation in forthcoming elections but subject to a slew of
conditions. "ANC will contest the upcoming elections so as to
restore confidence among people of the state….but our condition
is that there should be a Vigilance Commission comprising of
people like former Prime Ministers to oversee the elections”. His
son Muzaffar Shah is taking lead, going places and mobilizing cadre
–which ANC is not known to have –to become an active player in the
assembly elections.
8×
April 2008
 Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri
185131 (J&K)
Admission For Academic Session 2008-09
MAT Forms available w.e.f. March 10, 2008
Department Test Dates Guidelines
Admission for Financial Management
shall also be made through MAT exam
Management Studies from this academic session onwards.
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Financial Management other centre as notified in the MAT
Bulletin. MAT score of February 2008
shall be considered.

Admission for Information Technology

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& July 13, 2008 Entrance Test (CET) from this academic
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Venue : Rajouri / Jammu / Srinagar

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Engineering 2008 visit to university website :
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Communications
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Application Forms along with Information Bulletin and MAT Bulletin are available for sale
through Demand Draft, drawn in favour of Registrar, BGSB University payable at Rajouri,
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 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

Towards
A Food Secure
Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh
M S Swaminathan

S
ustainable Food Security is physical, economic, social and ecological
access to a balanced diet and safe drinking water so as to enable every

Exclusive child, woman and man to lead a healthy and productive life. In 2003, the M
S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, did a detailed study on the
prevailing situation in J&K and came out with a report on the Food Security
TO Situation in the State and gave an indicative roadmap of what had to be done to
become Food Secure. The report included a separate section on Ladakh and the
Epilogue special needs of the region also. The recommendations made then continue to
be relevant even if recent statistics and reports on the different aspects of food
security are taken into account.
“If Gandhi gave India freedom,
Swaminathan gave the food”, this
goes on to describe Dr. MS
Swaminathan is an outstanding
world statesman and visionary in
the agricultural and natural
resources arena. Trained as a
plant breeder and cytogeneticist
in India, the United Kingdom, and
the United States, he is acclaimed
as the "Father of the Green
Revolution in Asia." He is the
recipient of all three of India's
civilian honors: high, higher, and
highest. Dr. Swaminathan's
achievements have led to
dramatic increases in crop yields.
He has provided international
leadership in agriculture and
resource conservation and is
deeply concerned for the poor and
disadvantaged. His continuing
research and leadership ensure
that they receive the
opportunities they need to
develop in ways that enhance the
natural environment upon which
they depend. His MSS Research
Foundation is credited with
drawing road map for a Food-
secure and Poverty-free State of
Jammu & Kashmir.

Epilogue Ø
11 ×
April 2008

75 percent of the population of the State
lives in rural areas and 62 percent of the
rural population is dependent on
agriculture. The gross cropped area is
10.85 lakh hectares as per the
agricultural census of 2000-01 and the
greater percentage of land is under
foodgrains – rice, wheat and coarse
cereals. 71 per cent of the land holdings
are below two hectares in size and the
aveage size of landholding is 0.76 ha.
About 90 percent of the ground water
still remains unutilized and offers scope
for increasing the intensity of irrigation.
The state offers good opportunities for
value added horticultural products from
fruits for meeting the expanding
domestic market in this sector, as is
being done in Himachal Pradesh. With an
annual turnover of about Rs.1200
crores, it provides employment to about
23 lac people but less than 20 per cent of
the gross cropped area is under
horticulture. The state also has great
potential for growing medicinal and
aromatic plants, orchids and spices. The
present level of productivity and value
addition in the range of horticultural
crops grown in the state is low. It is
necessary to bridge this quality gap by
adopting suitable harvest, post harvest
and processing practices and thereby
increase their profitability to the
producers and consumer acceptability.
Among the 3 regions of J&K, livestock
population is highest in Ladakh, which
has very less potential for cultivation of
fodder crops. Fortification of crop
residues and their conversion from high
volume straw to low volume feed in the
Kashmir valley and transport to the
Ladakh region and community
management of feed banks will provide
food security to the livestock.
The literacy level in the State is 54 per
cent as per the 2001 census and the
female literacy level is 42 per cent. The
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
percentage of population consuming less
than 1890 Kilo calories per day (the bare
minimum required to ward off
malnourishment) is only 2.4 per cent
compared to the national average of 13.2
per cent. As per NFHS III (2005-06), 53 per
cent of rural women in the age group 15-
49 are anemic. This figure albeit lower
than the national average of 59 per cent
is nevertheless high and a cause for
concern in terms of health status of the
population. 26 per cent of the women in
the same category suffer from chronic
energy deficiency compared to the all
India level of 39 per cent. 65 per cent of
rural children in the 6-35 months
category suffer from anemia, an
unforgivably high figure even if it is lower
than the national average of 81 per cent.
29 per cent of the children in the same
category are stunted. This level has
come down from 40 per cent during NFHS
II (1998-99).
While J&K is in a relatively better
position compared to the country as a
whole with respect to indicators of
health and nutrition, much needs to be
done to address the employment
situation and the production scenario.
The relatively better-off position also
gives the State the advantage of covering
the last mile faster and becoming a role
model, given the right kind of policy
support and direction.
The thrust of the efforts has to be to
ensure:
Sustainable and profitable farming
systems
Happy rural and farming families
Balanced diets and safe drinking water
for all
Policies for enhancing sustainable food
production and availability
Epilogue Ø
12 ×
April 2008
Conserving and enhancing the ecological
foundations essential for sustainable
advances in production and productivity
are of utmost importance. Public policy
package in this area will have to address
two major areas, conserving prime
farmland for agriculture and increasing
production and productivity
Revitalizing the State Land Use
Board
The State Land Use Board should be
revitalised and reorganised in a manner
that they can give proactive advice to
farm families on land use based on the
following factors:
Farming systems (crops, livestock, fish
and agro-forestry), which will be most
efficient under given soil, water and
climatic conditions.
Short and medium range weather
forecasts (the country has developed
considerable capability in this area)
Projected market demand (both home and
external markets)
Cost of production, risks involved and
expected return.
Potential for on-farm and non-farm
livelihood generation, so as to maximize
income and employment per units of land
and water.
If such advice is given at least a few weeks
before the sowing season, a proper match
can be achieved between production and
potential market demand. Uneconomic
market interventions can then be avoided.
The agro-ecological potential of every
village can be utilized in an ecologically
and economically optimum manner.
In the looming scenario of climate change
and impending water scarcity, special
steps will have to be taken to rehabilitate

hydrologic hot spots and water bodies
like Dal and Wular lakes. Low Water
Parks should be established to
demonstrate, how to increase income
per litre of water. There is scope for
groundwater exploitation but since this
is expensive, Low Water Parks involving
both the cultivation of high value but
low volume crops and the use of
fertigation and micro irrigation
techniques will help to foster water
literacy. Low cost greenhouses using
fertigation techniques must be
popularised.
Institutional support
Higher production can be sustained only
if there are opportunities for assured
and remunerative marketing. A major
challenge relates to reducing the cost of
production by improving productivity.
Th i s w i l l c a l l f o r a p p r o p r i a te
institutional structures which can help
to provide key centralized services to
small and marginal farm families and to
provide them with the power of scale in
eco-farming (i.e., integrated pest
management, scientific water
management, integrated nutrient
supply, precision farming etc.,) as well
as in marketing. The role of the Small
Farmers Agri business Consortium (SFAC)
that was established for this purpose
should be reviewed and appropriate
institutional structures, owned and
controlled by farm families should be
promoted. User controlled and demand
driven institutional structures
characterized by low transaction costs,
are essential to provide the needed
assistance in post-harvest technology,
like drying, storage, processing and
marketing.
Kisan Credit cards
As we shift to high value crops and value
addition, credit needs of the farmers
increase. Credit should me made
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
available to the farmers on time. The
ambit of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
scheme that offers the facility of a
running credit account needs to be
expanded. Crop Insurance schemes
should also be popularised.
Horticulture development
Horticulture : Apples in Kashmir Orchards
The horticulture sector contributes
largely to sustain the economy of Jammu
and Kashmir and earns much-needed
foreign exchange for the country. Even
during the turbulent periods in the
nineties, when almost all other sectors in
the State nose-dived, horticulture
invariably registered a remarkable
growth. This vital sector holds promise
within domestic and foreign markets as
also fruit processing ventures. With an
annual turnover of over Rs. 1,500crore,
over six lakh families are mainly
associated with horticulture in the State.
It generates employment for nearly 25
lakh people directly or indirectly. Fruit
production in the State has increased to
11.05 lakh metric tons from a mere
16,000 metric tons in 1953-54. Of this,
the fresh fruit production accounts for
10.22 lakh metric tons. But only 6.7
percent of the gross cropped area in the
State is under horticulture.
Diversifying into horticulture and
enterprise development with the
Epilogue Ø
13 ×
April 2008
horticulture produce as a base can be a
major thrust area for the State's
development. A variety of pears, peaches,
plums, apricots, strawberry and cherry
grow in the State and there is good
potential for development of the fruit
canning industry. An amazing 85 varieties
of apricot reportedly grow in the Ladakh
valley. Kashmir
almonds are also
known for their
superiority of taste
and are very popular
with the consumers.
Considered as highly
nourishing and of
great medicinal value,
its kernels are used in
confectionery as well
as dessert. Sub-
tropical areas in
Jammu have potential
to grow strawberry
under irrigated
condition. Over 2000 varieties of garden
strawberry are reportedly known with
large fruit, weighing 30-70 grams. The
Field Research Laboratory of DRDO has
introduced the fruit in Ladakh and it is
reported to grow well there also. The
seabuckthorn or Leh-berry is a wonder
fruit of Ladakh that grows wild. It has
immense commercial value and needs to
be cultivated on a large scale.
Saffron cultivation is unique to Jammu
and Kashmir State in India; the only other
country producing the flower crop is
Spain. Saffron is a condiment medicine, a
natural dyestuff and an expensive spice in
the world used in various functions by
adding delicate aroma, pleasing flavor and
magnificent yellow color to food. It has
domestic demand and also has large
export potential. The annual production
of saffron is confined to Pampore in the
Kashmir valley and to the Kishtwar valley
of Jammu province. In Kashmir, the
practice is to alternate with paddy

cultivation, which fertilises the soil with
organic material and makes it rich and
healthy again. Concentrated thrust to
saffron cultivation and building a
market through sale by Government
emporia and tie-up for export through
APEDA can give stable income and
livelihoods to many.
The Department of Horticulture should
therefore see itself in a vantage position
to utilize the available advantages for
horticulture development and galvanize
into action. High density orchards,
greenhouse horticulture, and hybrid
seed production will have to be
promoted.
Alleviating fodder scarcity through
Community Feed and Fodder Banks
Food scarcity for the people is not a
severe problem in J&K. Furtherance of
livelihood opportunities will ensure
improvement in food security. But
addressing the issue of food for livestock
is very important. In areas of feed and
f o d d e r s c a r c i t y, a s c h e m e o f
decentralized community feed and
fodder banks can be implemented in
areas where the local community is
primarily dependent on livestock for
livelihood; a typical case is the nomadic
community in the Changthang valley of
Ladakh.
Setting up a Community Fodder Bank is
based on the premise of a decentralized
institutional setup from which the people
can borrow during periods of crises and
repay at a later date with interest from
the proceeds of their sale of
sheep/goat/wool. The repayment can be
in cash, which will then be utilised by the
fodder bank management committee to
procure fodder for the next cycle.
Typically, the fodder bank would meet the
needs of the nomadic community during
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
the severe winter when pasture
availability is at a low and moving in search
of grazing land is difficult.
Ideally, the initial fodder corpus and
support for building a storage structure
where a godown does not already exist
should come from the Government. This
corpus will revolve and grow from season
to season. Such a decentralised system of
storage and management of food for the
livestock can be effective in addressing
the problem of shortages and high
mortality during severe winters.
Its operation and sustainability crucially
hinges on capacity building and training
of the people to manage such a
mechanism, which is wherever
participatory management and a
facilitator role to be played by the local
Government or a local NGO are
important. Side by side, adequate
attention has to be paid to pasture
development for instance through
cultivation of fodder crops like alfa alfa
on a large scale. Training in sustainable
breeding of livestock and attention to
animal health and nutrition is equally
important.
Animal Husbandry therefore emerges as
another thrust area for focused attention
in the State. The State is home to the
changra goat from which the priceless
pashmina wool is obtained. But
unfortunately, the nomads who tend the
goat do not get commensurate returns.
Developing the pashmina industry in a
manner that it benefits the herders,
thrust on developing the woolen garment
industry are crucial thrust areas. While
the Community Fodder Bank will help
alleviating food insecurity for the
animals, and be a support for the
livestock herders, developing the wool
industry based on these animals will
promote livelihood security.
Epilogue Ø
14 ×
April 2008
POLICIES FOR IMPROVING ECONOMIC
ACCESS TO FOOD
Information empowerment
Advances in information technology also
provide opportunities for farm graduates
to establish computer-aided and Internet
connected Rural Knowledge Centres.
These centres should help to convert
generic information into location specific
information. Farmer owned and operated
knowledge centres would be useful. A
virtual college linking such Village
Knowledge Centres to Agricultural
Universities and Research Institutions can
be established, so that farm-women and
men are able to get up-to-date and
authentic technical advice. Farm
graduates (both men and women) can be
involved in establishing and operating
such Rural Knowledge Centers based on
modern information and communication
technology. Such Centers can also operate
local community radio stations. Such a
restructuring and retooling of extension
services would help to provide demand
driven environment and farming systems
specific advice to farmers. They will
trigger a knowledge revolution in
agriculture and will lead to an efficient
and eco-sensitive precision farming
movement. This great opportunity for
achieving a transition from unskilled to
skilled work and for designing a new
extension service for the new economy
should not be ignored.
Household entitlement cards
Families / individuals identified as
vulnerable to endemic hunger, can be
given. Household Entitlement Cards which
give information on all Government
projects (both Central and State
Government) relating to poverty and
hunger elimination, to which they are
entitled. The various government
projects can be disaggregated by gender,
age, class and caste and precise

information provided on methods of
accessing the benefits to which they are
entitled. Land ownership records should
be periodically updated and made
available to the people.
Employment generation
Employment generation schemes need
to be combined with micro credit and
marketing facilities. Schemes need to
be taken up for promotion and
production of inexpensive, simple and
indigenous methods of drying or
preserving fruits and vegetables. These
can be small-scale enterprises with
proper market support. Horticulture
can be a major revenue earner and can
also be a means of employment
generation.
N a t i o n a l l y a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y,
promoting micro-enterprises supported
by micro-finance has been identified as
an economically efficient method of
strengthening the livelihood security of
the poor. Under such a system of job-led
growth, transaction costs are low,
repayment record is high and
technological and market linkages are
strong. Micro-enterprises succeed
when the production of goods and
commodities, or organization of services
are related to assured and remunerative
marketing opportunities. In the case of
goods and services based on local
natural resources, it is important that
detailed micro-level planning is
undertaken, so as to ensure that the
natural resources, particularly land and
water, are used in a sustainable manner.
It is increasingly proved by experiences
at the micro-level, that the mechanism
most likely to succeed is a decentralized
and participatory system that makes the
beneficiaries responsible for making the
system work.
Sustainable Self Help Groups (SHGs),
linking of savings and credit systems,
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
delivering small loans, portfolio
financing, flexible and frequent
repayment schedules, scope for
innovation and incentive are some of the
mechanisms for overcoming the
constraints that prevent effective
functioning of rural transactions and
therefore access. A participatory system
can evolve such mechanisms.
Handicrafts
Woolen textiles of fleecy soft texture of
matchless excellence in weaving, hand-
woven carpets of finest warp and weft,
sericulture, exquisite designs worked on
papier-mache, wood work, silverware,
etc. are the products of craftsmanship
unique to J&K. Namdas are made of wool
of inferior quality and old woollen
blankets are used for making gabbas.
This cottage industry is concentrated in
Anantnag, Rainawari and Baramula. Lois
(woollen blankets) of Shopian and
Bandipore are well known. Hand-woven
blankets of Rainawari are also durable
and warm. Woollen pattus, tweeds, and
worsted are manufactured in many hand
and power looms established in and
around Srinagar. The Kangri making is a
cottage industry concentrated in the
HANDICRAFTS : An artisan making Kashmir Kangri
Epilogue Ø
15 ×
April 2008
areas on the banks of Wullar lake near
Watlab and at Tsrar and Botingo villages.
All these products have a wide national
and international market. More
production for the market, publicity
through media and visible marketing by
State emporium showrooms across the
country can create a base for more people
developing this enterprise activity. Thrust
on developing women's enterprise with
support from the Women's Development
Corporation, promotion of self help group
activity and financial linkages with banks
can create further impetus for growth of
handicrafts.
Ecotourism
Tourism development has immense
potential and the natural beauty and
landscape with proper infrastructure
support make it an automatic revenue
earner in peaceful times. Militant
activity in the State has been a setback
for this industry. But with peace
returning, renewed tourism promotion
and developing eco-tourism sites
infrastructure facilities for staying in
natural ambience, trekking, rock
climbing, rafting etc. making best use of
the natural surroundings without causing
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

any ecological harm, promoting eco
friendly products at such sites like use
of paper bags instead of plastic, will
attract more tourist and adventure
minded travelers from both other
parts of India and abroad. Ladakh has
a good inflow of tourists from abroad,
but needs more promotion among
Indians.
Strategies to improve food absorption
Strategies must be guided by a better
understanding of food insecurity. A
whole life-cycle approach to nutrition
security will help to ensure that the
nutritional needs of everyone in the
community and at every stage in an
individual's life are satisfied. We
should immediately provide a
horizontal dimension to the numerous
vertically structured nutrition
intervention programmes currently in
operation by adopting a whole life-cycle
approach to nutrition security (diagram
2).
LIFE CYCLE APPROACH TO NUTRITION
Pregnant mothers
Overcoming maternal and foetal under-
and mal-nutrition is an urgent task, since
nearly 30 per cent of the children born in
India are characterised by low birth
weight (LBW), with the consequent risk
of impaired brain development. LBW is a
proxy indicator of the low status of
women in society, particularly of their
health and nutrition status during their
entire life cycle.
Nursing mothers
Appropriate schemes will be necessary to
enable mothers to breast-feed their
babies for at least six months, as
recommended by the World Health
Organisation (WHO). Policies at work
places, including the provision of
appropriate support services should be
conducive to achieving this goal.
Infants (0-2 years)
Special efforts will have to be made to
reach this age group through their
mothers, since they are the most un-
reached at present. Eighty percent of
brain development is completed before
the age of 2. The first four months in a
child's life is particularly critical, since the
child is totally dependent on its mother for

Higher mortality rate

Impaired mental development
Increased risk of adult
chronic disease
Reduced capacity
Elderly to care for baby Baby
Malnourished Low birth Untimely/inadequate
weight weaning
Frequent infections
Inadequate
Inadequate cath up Inadequate food,
foetal growth health & care
Inadequate nutrition
food, health
& care
Child
Stunted
Woman Reduced
Malnourished mental
capacity
Pregnancy
Low weight gain
Adolescent Inadequate food,
Stunted health & care

Higher
maternal Inadequate food, Reduced
mortality health & care mental
capacity

Source: UN Commission on Nutrition

Epilogue Ø
16 ×
April 2008

food and survival.
Pre-school Children (2-6 years)
The on-going integrated child
development service, if implemented
properly, will help to cater to the
nutritional and health care needs of this
age group.
Youth (6 to 20 years)
A nutrition-based noon meal programme
in all schools (public and private, and
rural and urban) will help to improve the
nutritional status of this group.
However, a significant percentage of
children belonging to this age group are
not able to go to school due to economic
reasons. Such school 'push-outs' or child
workers need special attention.
Adults (20 to 60 years)
Apart from the sale of subsidised grain,
the major approach has been food-for-
work programmes for this group. In
designing nutrition compact for them,
persons working in the organised and
unorganised sectors will have to be dealt
with separately. Also, the intervention
programmes will have to be different for
men and women, taking into account
the multiple burdens on a woman's daily
life.
Old and infirm persons
This group will have to be provided with
appropriate nutritional support, as part
of the ethical obligations of society.
Nutrition throughout the Lifecycle
Safe drinking water and
environmental hygiene
Repeated infections contribute to
malnutrition. Priority needs to be given
to environmental sanitation, safe
drinking water and ready access to
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
health care. Both the health and ICDS
infrastructure should be energized
towards promoting this. Clean drinking
water is necessary to ensure the efficient
Now
biological absorption and digestion of
food. Meeting this basic need must
receive overriding priority. In addition,
Telling
to the extent possible, the consumption
of boiled water should be encouraged
and facilitated. This one step could help
to bring down infant and child mortality
The J&K
rates significantly.
Environmental hygiene can be improved
Stories
through cooperation among local
communities. Every village and town
should have a policy for the treatment
and recycling of solid and liquid wastes.
Epilogue
because there is more to know
In towns and cities, the treatment and
disposal of hospital wastes should
receive particular attention. Waste
recycling could also become a
remunerative enterprise and self-help Contact
groups can be trained to take to such
environment enhancing enterprises. ABDULLAH NEWS AGENCY
Lal Chowk, Srinagar
Eliminating hidden hunger caused
9419074859
micronutrient deficiencies
A two-pronged strategy consisting of
direct interventions like the RAINA NEWS AGENCY
administration of oral dose of Vitamin A, Residency Road, Jammu
iron and iodine fortified salt, as well the
promoting the cultivation of vegetables
and trees like amla in the small area
surrounding the huts/homes (home ABC STATIONERS AND
garden), can be introduced in every DISTRIBUTORS
village. In Ladakh, the magical Leh
seabuckthorn that has higher vitamin C
content than amla as well as medicinal
properties should be promoted. The
highest priority should go to the CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
elimination of hidden hunger as soon as New Delhi
possible.
With the right kind of effort on all the
OXFORD BOOK STORE
three fronts of production, access and
absorption, Jammu & Kashmir has all the New Delhi, Mumbai,
potential to become a Food and Nutrition Calcutta, Bangalore,
Secure State in the near future. Chennai & Goa
Epilogue Ø
17 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

No Food Insecurity
Beyond 2010

Abdul Aziz Zargar

Agriculture with its allied Sectors like
Horticulture, Sheep, Animal Husbandry,
Fisheries and Cooperatives are the core
sectors of State Economy the major
contributors to the states Gross Domestic
Production (GDP). About 85% of our
population depends on Agriculture Sector
by providing basic food for human
consumption, fodder for animal
population and other items like Milk,
Curd, Fish and Vegetables in addition to
cereals. The stunning growth in the
population has put enourmous burden on
the resource base of the Agriculture
which needs to be modernized by
adopting the new technological traits,
supplementation of balanced dozes of
fertilizers traits,
supplementation of
balanced dozes of fertilizers
and resorting to Integrated
Pest Management (IPM)
strategies.
government has kept this objective in
view in devising comprehensive
strategical approach visualized to be
sustainable and conductive for an over-
all growth.
Ours being an Agrarian society, the
agriculture has to play a dynamic and
vibrant role in improving the economy of
the State. It has to produce sufficient
food to cater the needs of growing
population. The Coalition Government
initially under the dynamic leadership of
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief
Minister from 2002 to 2005, took major
steps to strengthen the relationship
between the “Land and Man”. A sort of
dynamic approach was adopted for
sustainable agricultural development.
To ensure sustainable agriculture
problem we require a policy of vision for
conservation of the land resources
coupled with intensive agronomical
practices and extension strategies. We
shall have to extensively train the farmer
as he has a central role in implementing a
policy on food security in the State.
Keeping the above facts in view, an
Agricultural Policy Paper was adopted in
July 2002 wherein a road map was
prepared for making agriculture

Despite some impressive

achievements made in
Agriculture and allied
sectors in the country, the
economic Agriculture
development before 2001 in
J&K has been slow and not
concurrent with the rapidly
increasing demographic
changes. Thus it is the need
of the hour to meet the food
needs of the growing
population and also the
demand of the National and
International Markets. It is
therefore, imperative to put
the Natural resources like,
land & water, etc; to
optimum use. Our coalition

Epilogue Ø
18 ×
April 2008

competitive and profitable in the State.
The State resources of Agriculture have
high potential for having a higher rate of
growth per hector. Endowed with the
advantage of environmental resources
agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir State
faced many-fold challenges. Being crore
sector of the economy 37% of the net
state domestic product is contributed by
this sector. Nearly 2/3rd of our work force
is employed in the agriculture and about
80% of the population of the state is
directly or indirectly dependent on this
sector. The efforts made in agriculture
particularly during last six years have
been impressive as both Govt. machinery
in agriculture and the two Agriculture
Universities with their combined efforts
have put this sector in harmony with
potential and accelerated extension.
Although there is wide variations in yield
of different crops across the various Agro
climatic zones and sub zones in the state,
a sustainable availability of the food
items shall require a Vision
Policy for conservation and
exploitation of available
resources.
Globalization has opened new
opportunities of converting
small and local Agrarian
b u s i n e s s i n t o
National/International
Commercial Enterprise
through intercontinental
business channels. Agriculture
offers an opportunity to
transform our farm produce
from scarcity to plenty after
taking full advantage of the
present opportunities and fast
changing global economic
scenario.
The projected demand for the
food grains of the state at
present is estimated around
26 lac mts. Per year but the
present quantum of food
production comes to 20 lac
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
mets. Only which creates a deficit of
about over 6½ lac mts., in terms of rice,
maize and wheat.
The Jammu and Kashmir State at present
has gross cropped area, just around 12.50
lac hectors out of which 7.30 lac hectors
is the net cropped area and only 4.36 lac
hectors of land has assured irrigation
facilities !
It is a matter of concern with the present
Coalition Government that the food grain
production in the State has not
significantly increased during last two
decades. The area under different food
crops has also not increased, but
decreased to some extent due to the
diversification that has taken place, in
converting, some area of land under
vegetable and fruit cultivation. The
impact of this diversification has been
very positive as the vegetables worth 200
Epilogue Ø
19 ×
April 2008
crores are being exported that too during
the period (summer), when in rest of the
country the season of vegetable
cultivation is off ! At the same time we
are also producing 15 lac mts of fruit
offering us a business of Rs. 2000 crores
of which Rs. 1.50 crores as the export
component. The areas under fruit
cultivation spreads over to 2.68 lac
hectors.
Similarly, our government is making all
out efforts to increase productivity in the
area of vegetable production, fruits,
milk, meat, eggs and fisheries. The J&K
State is self sufficient in the milk
production. The average prescribed
consumption of milk per capita per day is
230 mg but our state is producing 300 mg
per capita per day higher than national
average. The fish catch went up from
14.22 lac tones in 2005-06 to 19.00 lac
tones during 2007-08. The fish catch and
the sale of trout fish has fetched Rs. 2
crores during 2006-07 as
revenue income to the
department.
Apart from Private Sector,
our Cooperatives are also
playing their role in the
economic development of
the State and are important
players in sustaining agrarian
based Rural Economy. The
S ta te G ove r n m e n t h a s
decided to encourage
formation of cooperatives in
the poultry and dairy sectors
with the twin objective to
meet the demand of white
meat and dairy products
within the State, besides
generating the employment.
After winding up the old and
ailing milk federations of
Kashmir/Jammu, a new
State Level Federation under
the name Jammu and
Kashmir Milk Producers
Cooperative has been

established in collaboration with the
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing
F e d e r a t i o n . T h e Pr i m a r y M i l k
Cooperative Societies are functional
under the new arrangement. The Milk
Plants at Satwari Jammu and
Cheshmashahi Srinagar are processing
20000 ltrs of milk per day. The brand
name “Snow Cap” is becoming a house
hold name in the State. Apart from the
raw milk, the Federation has also
introduced flavoured milk, cured, butter
and other diary products in the market.
The Milk Producers are not more
resorting to distress sale of milk as
remunerative prices are being offered to
them at their door steps.
The Cooperative institutions have also
played a key role in other areas of
Agrarian Economy by increasing the
productivity through the timely
availability of farm credit and other
inputs required for carrying out the
agricultural operations. It is rightly said
that Agriculture is the backbone of the
economy and cooperatives are the
backbone of the agriculture. The
cooperative institutions alone in the
state have been the major stake holders
in financing the agriculture related
activities. The Cooperative Banks alone
have issued more than 65000 Kissan
Credit Cards and are pioneers in
launching the crop insurance scheme. In
the distribution of Agricultural inputs like
fertilizers, the State Government during
the past six years has adopted a
liberalized policy whereby all
Cooperative Institutions with sound
financial position have been allowed to
go for the direct purchase of fertilizers.
The liberalized policy has substantially
increased the off take of fertilizers from
60000 mts in 2001 to 1.20 lac mts in 2006-
07.
It was a great pleasure for me to attend
the Resource Management Seminar at
Chandigarh from 29th to 31st October 2007
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
along with scientists of my state. This
seminar was specially attended by the
Director General Indian Council for
Agriculture Research (ICAR) Dr. Mangla
Rai along with Vice Chancellors of
Agriculture Universities of
Jammu/Srinagar, Chandigarh, Himachal
Pradesh the Agriculture Scientists of our
country. This seminar was also attended
by great National Level Scientists like Sh.
V. N. Sharda, Director, CSWCR & TI
Dehradun and A.K. Tiwari, Dy. Director
General ICAR and Organizing Secretary
Central Soil and Water Conservation
Chandigarh. I had also made some
suggestions with regard to major gaps in
the current Research and training efforts
in the field of Agriculture, Animal
Husbandry and Fisheries. The discussion
was focused on livelihood, environment
and food security, not only in J&K State
but in the entire spectrum of our country.
We have deliberated over the ongoing
resource conservation programmes for
subsistence of productivity in J&K where
we have only 31% sown area instead of
National average which is 46.16%.
The economic growth is dependent by
investing more budgetary funds in this
sector, it is regretted that the various
Central Government have not made
reasonable investments to accelerate
the growth rate in the Agriculture Sector
during past many years. Now it is a
matter of pride that the Central
Government has announced loan waiver
policy for small and marginal farmers
during the current budget session of the
Parliament, last month. It is also in this
backdrop that the process of
recapitalization of Primary Agriculture
Cooperative Societies and Cooperative
Banks was started in 2004 (Prof. A
Vaidaynathan Committee Repot), and is
now in the offing. The Central
Government especially Hon'ble Prime
Minister, Sardar Manmohan Singh,
Hon'ble Union Minister of Agriculture Shri
Sharad Pawar and Hon'ble Union Finance
Epilogue Ø
20 ×
April 2008
Minister Sh. P. Chadimbaram need to be
congratulated.
Keeping in view the challenges of the
fluctuation in food production before
2002-03 by the food insecurity, shortage
of quality nutrition was due to low
productivity and less production. There
are still imbalances due to the
degeneration of eco-system and low
water availability in the entire irrigation
sector. Due to increase in the degrees of
temperature we have to double the
rainfed farming on scientific basis on
normally to increase the cost of benefit
ratio.
We have had full fledged discussion over
the 11th Plan Paper in our Cabinet
Meetings held one at Srinagar and other
at Jammu. The J&K Government has
come up with a proposal to achieve the
growth rate in Agriculture Sector by 4%
per year and over all growth rate will be
near about 8½%. It was only due to our
continuous efforts that my Hon'ble
Cabinet colleagues have first time
categorized agriculture sector as a “Core
Sector”. I am thankful to the Economic
Advisor of J&K Government Dr.Haseeb
Drabu, the then Financial Commissioner
Planning and Development Department,
Mr. S.s. Kapoor and Commissioner/
Secretary to Government Finance
Department Sh. B.B. Vyas, for their
valued contributions. The Hon'ble Chief
Minister was kind enough to agree to
grant the status of core sector to
agriculture which should have been
granted to it three decades earlier.
Our government is determined to wipe
out food insecurity by the end of 2010.
Abdul Aziz Zargar
Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Cooperatives
Jammu & Kashmir

Meeting Challenges In
Jammu Province
Nagendra Sharma
Food security and its relationship to
sustainable agricultural and rural
development have increasingly become
matters of concern for developing
countries and for the international
community. While there are many
complex factors that influence
sustainable development and food
security, it is clear that education in
agriculture plays an important role in
preparing farmers, researchers,
educators, extension staff, members of
agri-businesses and others to make
productive contributions. A critical issue
in the 21st century will be the changes
and adaptations required in agricultural
education in order for it to more
effectively contribute to improved food
security, sustainable agricultural
production and rural development.
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology of Jammu was
established in 1999 with a mandate of
Research, Human Resource Development
and Technology transfer. Since its
inception the university has contributed
immensely in tackling the problems
faced by the peasantry of Jammu region
through its research in various units
located at Rajouri. Poonch. Bhaderwah,
Raya, Dhiansar and Samba. Jammu
region has high potential in field/fruit
crops & in animal wealth. Ranbir Singh
Pura is well known for production of
basmati rice and Bhaderwah for rajmash,
Paddar for black zeera, wild olive and
sour pomegranate in mid hills; aonla, ber,
desi mango, jamun in kandi belt of
planting and saffron in Kishtwar area are
some of the special features of the
region. Besides, the region is rich in
kangani goat, Bhaderwah sheep and Yak
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
of district Doda. University has mandate, exploitation to merely 1.3 per cent.
not only to preserve the rich biodiversity Highlights of research of the university in
of the region but also to develop the different crops is reproduced here with.
technical know-how for exploitation of
these regional resources to achieve Field Crops
socio-economic development,
sustainability and self sufficiency. At
Jammu produces 1.99 Lakh qtls of rice,
present, University has 58 externally
4.5 Lakh qtls of wheat, 4.1 Lakh qtls of
funded projects which includes 29 under
Maize, 7900 qtls of pulses, 42100 qtls of
Horticulture Technology Mini-Mission
oilseeds & 15800 qtls of minor cereals.
(HTMM) and 9 Adhoc Projects under
Net irrigated area in Jammu is 109169 ha
Coordinated Research Projects from ICAR
(15.8%), out of which canal irrigation is
besides internally funded projects. New
available to only 79358 hectares (11.50%)
varieties in rice, wheat, oilseeds & pulses
and hence agriculture in rest of the
have been released during the short life
region (84.2%) is mainly dependent on
span of the university's inception.
rain water availability, To overcome
Agricultural technologies developed by
water availability problem the university
the university have helped to mitigate
has developed water harvesting
problems faced by the farmers of Jammu
structures that store rain water for long
region. These technologies reach farmers
usage. Through extension wings and
through the extensive extension network
Govt. subsidies these structures are
of the university and line departments of
being popularized in the Jammu region
the state and partly directly through the
for prosperity of farmers' community.
university.
Th e u n i ve rsi ty h a s foc u se d on
The major impediments to the growth of
development of value added crop
agriculture in Jammu region are low
varieties for domestic and export
productivity in agriculture resulting in
markets. Sanwal basmati (IET 15815) in
poor employment and income
rice; RSP-303 in wheat; DGS-l (Gobi
generation, poor infrastructure, high
Sarson); RSPT-l & RSPT-2 (Toria); RSPR-l
population growth rate (>2.0%) and low
& RSPR-3 (Raya) and SCS-3
literacy rate (<54.0%). Out of a total
(Chickpea/gram) have all performed
population of 44.3 lakh of Jammu region,
better over the earlier varieties and have
34.3 lakh (77.4%) live in villages. Out of
helped to narrow down the gap between
an area of 18.0 lakh hectares, only 6.92
state and national average.
lakh hectares is under cultivation. The
production of the important food crops,
namely rice, maize and wheat account Under dry land conditions of Udhampur,
for 84.0 per cent of total cropped area; intercropping of maize+cowpea in 1:1
the balance 16.0 per cent is shared by ratio during kharif and wheat+mustard in
inferior cereals and pulses. Major area of 4:1 ratio during rabi are found to be
Jammu region is under dryland profitable prepositions. Similarly under
agriculture with ground water dry land conditions of Rajouri, the
Epilogue Ø
21 ×
April 2008

intercropping of cowpea in maize during
kharif season and mustard in wheat
during rabi season has been found to be
promising as compared to monoculture
of these crops.
The university under ICAR mega seed
production project has refined seed
production technology and initiated
production of breeder seed with added
emphasis on hybrid cultivars. Paras, a
single cross hybrid in maize has recorded
grain yields of up to 55.6 q/ha and needs
promotion through seed production and
distribution. Techniques have been
developed to handle cut-worm problem
in maize. The package of practices for
Rajmash, Moong, Soyben and Cowpea
have been prepared and printed.
Horticulture:
The horticulture sector occupies an
important position in the farming system
of Jammu. The region has three ago-
climatic conditions: sub-tropical, mid
temperate and temperate. Each region
has its own potential to grow specific
fruits. Temperate fruits like pear, peach,
plum, apricot, cherry, walnut etc grown
at elevation of 1000-3000 meters above
mean sea level are important cash
fetching fruits. These fruits in addition to
supplementing diet of the people also
form an important item of export. The
production of various fruits includes
10458 metric tons of apple, 14152 mt. of
pear, 501 mt. of apricot, 15104 mt. of
citrus fruits, 13292 mt. of mango, 12799
mt. of ber and 20067 mt. of walnut.
Due to rich diversity of agro-climatic
conditions, topographical variations and
altitudinal differences, horticulture is
emerging as the major farming activity
among the farmers of Jammu region. Ber,
aonla, Guava, wild pomegranate and
olive are emerging as important fruit
crops attracting hundreds of farmers
every, year in dryland areas. In the mid-
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
hill zone, the agro-climatic conditions
are highly suitable for the successful
cultivation of fruits like olive, kiwi,
pecanuts and strawberry. The state Govt.
has chalked out plans to bring more area
under these fruits. Under the bee-
keeping programme, management
practices for local bee Apis cerenci have
been worked out to save the colonies of
this species from extinction.
The state faces many problems with
regard to development of horticulture
that includes low productivity, high
percentage of off-grade fruits,
fragmented land holdings and poor
connectivity to markets. To help farmers,
university has established a quality
testing laboratory to provide quality
testing and R&D support to farmers and
industry. Post harvest handling, storage
and processing protocols have been
developed for the benefit of farmers and
industry. Considering the importance of
research in this field the Department of
Agriculture, State Govt. Agencies and
SKUAST-J should more closely
collaborate for benefit of the state.
Scope for the production of high value
crops like saffron, kala zeera, olive,
walnut etc has been enhanced through
research on problems of corn rot in
saffron, fruit drop in walnut and inducing
flowering & fruit set in olive varieties and
mosaic disease of rajmash. The year
around cultivation of mushrooms through
inclusion of button mushrooms, milky
mushrooms and dhingri (Pleurotus) in
cycle is expected to extend income of
farmers and generate employment in
rural areas. Studies on standardization of
propagation techniques in aonla have
helped in multiplication of planting
material. A strawberry cultivar 'Chandler'
has performed better in terms of yield
and quality. Research on strawberry has
helped in increased production and
export of this fruit out of Jammu. As a
significant achievement Jammu has
Epilogue Ø
22 ×
April 2008
started export of this crop with a record
production of around 1,00,000 kg during
2006-07 through efforts of university and
l i n e d e p a r t m e n t s . Pr o m i s i n g
technologies for high density cultivation
of strawberry with plasticulture,
planting techniques, micro irrigation
methods, plastic mulching, use of plastic
tunnels, runner production and post-
harvest management in strawberry have
revolutionized its cultivation.
Jammu produces 83100 metric tons of
fruits and vegetables. A large number of
varieties/hybrids identified in vegetable
crops and agro-techniques standardized
have been included in package and
practices of vegetable. Research on off-
season and high value vegetables like
broccoli, asparagus, celery and
mushrooms is likely to benefit farmers of
Jammu region in the long run. The
scientists have developed agro-
techniques for round the year cultivation
of knolkhol and radish. Farmers have
been greatly benefited with leading to
higher income. Extensive training
programmes have been conducted by the
university to promote river bed
cultivation, rainy season vegetables,
winter vegetables, scientific
management of vegetable crops,
integrated pest management in
vegetable production, post harvest
management and marketing of
vegetables, multiple cropping systems in
vegetable cultivation and seed
production techniques in vegetable
crops. Keeping in view the futuristic
expansion of this area a college of
Horticulture and Agroforestry is proposed
by the university.
Biotechnology
The climate of the state is ideally suited
for R&D in the field of biotechnology.
Some infrastructure already exists for
this purpose with SKUAST-J. Most of the
research in biotechnology has taken

place for temperate zones of the country.
Hence, technical innovations cannot
simply be borrowed from other states.
There is a need to develop indigenous
technology for productivity
enhancement and developing new
varieties of crops. Micropropagation
protocols for multiplication of disease
free planting material of ginger,
hybrid/ms lines of tomato and tuberose
have been developed by SKUAST
scientists. Another challenge in the
development of biotechnology is the
linkages between the research institutes
and the cultivator, a gap which becomes
a hurdle in the commercialization of
biotechnological research. Hence, to
improve the biotechnological sector, the
state government should provide funds
to build the infrastructure for
biotechnology research and encourage
research initiatives in hybridization,
micro propagation, tissue culture and
other biotechnological applications in
horticulture. This would help university
to use biotechnology, to introduce new
and improved cattle breeds, to set up a
biotechnological park, to provide
support for seed and plant production, to
develop high-nutrition fodder at low
cost. The university envisages an
advance centre of biotechnology for
consideration of the state govt.
Livestock and Dairy
Animal husbandry has the potential to
play a prominent role in poverty
alleviation since it is the source of
livelihood for a large chunk of rural folk.
In J&K, animal husbandry plays a
significant role as 0.13 per cent GDP of
the state is contributed by this sector.
The region has precious wealth of buffalo
(10.40 lakh), sheep (34.11 lakh), goats
(20.55 lakh) and poultry (30.84 lakh).
Cattle and poultry are the most
important tools for the development of
rural economy. Thus livestock industry in
the state has vast scope for
development. Increasing the income of
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
small holders/producers has an
immediate impact on poverty that can
improve the purchasing power and
nutritional status of the poor farmers.
The poverty reducing impact of livestock
production can be greatly enhanced by
increasing efficiency of livestock
production and decreasing cost of
production, making farmers achieve
greater profits. Livestock production
costs can be reduced with break through
in disease control, feeding efficiency,
breeding and management which is
achieved mainly through dedicated and
holistic activities of veterinary
institutions. Veterinary college at R.S.
Pura is striving to achieve these goals.
Livestock production is growing faster
than any other agricultural sub-sector
and thus being termed as 'Livestock
Revolution'. This term refers to the
astonishing consumer driven increase in
the production of livestock. As the urban
population is becoming richer due to
rapid industrial growth and their income
rise, the dietary preferences change,
they want to eat more livestock and dairy
products. Keeping this in mind the
scientists of livestock product
technology at SKUAST-J have
standardized techniques for production
of 'Kaladi' with quality uniformity and
high shelf life along with several other
products and processes.
In terms of production, there is a huge
gap between demand and supply. Due to
climatic conditions there is a great
demand for meat and warm clothes. The
breeds of available cattle are unable to
provide both components in sufficient
quantities. The sector provides direct
employment to about 2.0 lakh people.
Thus, this sector needs attention to
achieve adequate expansion to bridge
the demand supply gap. Research is
oriented to develop improved breeds of
cattle and poultry required to fulfill the
needs of the state. Research output is
geared to generate good quality cattle
Epilogue Ø
23 ×
April 2008
feed. The state provides suitable climate
for cattle breeding and hence research is
initiated that can help to establish cattle
breeding centers and produce poultry to
meet the increased demand for poultry
products.
The milk production has increased to
around 7.66 lakh metric tons. The
demand for milk and milk products has
been increasing continuously in the
region and hence there is an enormous
scope for dairy development. There is
abundance of local breed of cattle and
for improvement of these through
crosses with new breed has to be
undertaken. The sector has vast job
opportunities. From the stage of
subsistence activity, dairy development
can grow through modernization and
thereby increase income and
employment opportunities.
Hence, establishment of college of food
technology is visualized with modern
dairy processing plant, pilot facilities in
F&V and food grain processing to provide
R&D support for establishment of post
harvest handling, storage and processing
pilot facilities at university that shall
ultimately help in established of
processing industry in the region. The
assistance for this college from state
govt. will go a long way to help peasants
of the state and the activities of
respective line departments.
Plant Protection:
The university has identified number of
resistant sources against insect-pest and
diseases after its inception. Some bio
control agents were also tested against
soil born insect-pests disease attack in
fields, fruits and vegetable crops.
Integrated pest management module is
also applied to manage the insect pest
attack and reduce the risk of
environment pollution.
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

Fishery Development
The total fish output of the state is
estimated at 1,90,557 qt. and of Jammu
30240 qt. and the number of fisherman
around 66,955 with another 10000
employed in this sector. However, there
is a big gap between demand and supply.
In addition to local population, defense
personnel, and tourists are the source of
increasing demand for fish. With 27,781
km of rivers/streams, the state has a
potential to produce 40.0 million tons of
fish. Presently there are 18 state-owned
trout hatcheries and 22 fish farms.
Development of this sector in Jammu
division shall increase employment
opportunities. In order to exploit the
potential of this sector, university is
striving to develop fish breeds with high
returns to farmers, encourage private
enterprise for its marketing to
neighboring states and develop
technologies that shall help extend shelf
life of fish. Fishing should be made part
of tourism promotion in the state. Trout
and golden Mahasheer temperate fishes
are in great demand.
Technology Transfer:
The university has developed low cost
and effective technologies to help
farmers. To get a feed back on efficacy of
these technologies and problems of
farmers a village stay programme has
been made mandatory for the
researchers of the university. This helps
to reorient research to the actual need of
the farmers. However, to reach 3617
villages, 30 Tehsils, 561 Panchayats and
57 blocks of Jammu region effective and
committed support of Govt. agencies is
required. There is need for
establishment of training institutes in
some cluster villages so that farmers can
be trained properly.
Central Govt. moots rural industrial hubs
and wants Panchayats to become equity
partners by offering land to private
entrepreneurs at block, village and
district level. This shall help villagers to
find jobs in factories and Govt. shall be
regulating partners' like in Town and
Village enterprises (TVE's) of China.
Through greater public and private
partnerships, there is possibility of
reversing decline in agricultural growth
and ushering in 2nd green revolution.
DR. NAGENDRA SHARMA
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu

Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri

185131 (J&K)
Admission For College of Engineering & Technology
(AICTE - LOI)
College of Engineering and Technology (COET) - Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University announced admission
2008 to following Engineering streams :
a. B.Tech. Computer Sciences & Engineering
b. B.Tech. Information Technology
c. B.Tech. Electronics & Communications For Detail Information
Eligibility : 10+2 from a recognized Board with 45% marks (40% for Sc/St) with visit to university website :
Physics & Mathematics as compulsory subject. www.bgsbuniversity.org
Entrance Test shall be conducted somewhere in the month of July/August 2008. or Camp Office, Jammu / Srinagar
Venue : Rajouri / Jammu / Srinagar
Application Forms along with Information Bulletin and MAT Bulletin are available for sale on payment Rs. 700/-
by Demand Draft, drawn in favour of Registrar, BGSB University payable at Rajouri, from the office of
1. Assistant Registrar (Admissions), University Campus, Rajouri 01962-262616;
2. Camp Office, Opposite Channi Himmat, Bye Pass, Jammu 0191-2466892, 2464402;
3. Regional Office , Rose Lane Colony, Indira Gandhi Road, Parry Pora, Baghat Barzulla (Near SSRB)
Srinagar, Kashmir 09419011449 and
4. Can also be downloaded from University website : www.bgsbuniversity.org.
For More Details Contact : Dean Academic Affairs, 09419103563 and
Assistant Registrar (Admissions), 09419171665
No. BGSBU/Acad/08/17665 Sd/-
Dated : 23 February, 2008 Assistant Registrar (Academic Affairs)

Epilogue Ø
24 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

Scenario In Kashmir,
Ladakh

Anwar Alam

The role of Green Revolution in addressing the problems of food security in India is today known to everyone. It ushered en era
of overall rural prosperity and became a model for transforming the agro-economic scenario of many developing countries.
Apart from ensuring food security of the country on sustainable basis, the overall agricultural development played a pivotal role
in overall economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation. Even after more than four decades of Green
Revolution, that was subsequently followed by yellow (oilseeds), white (milk) and blue (fish) revolutions, our policy planners
are conscious of the fact that overall economic growth is inconceivable without growth in agriculture sector. However, future
agricultural development in the country would be guided not only by compulsions of improving food and nutritional security, but
also by the concerns of environmental protection, sustainability, profitability and even by agricultural exports. Liberalization
process under World Trade Organization (WTO) regime and globalization of markets calls for competitiveness and efficiency of
our agricultural production.

Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir State
has an important place in the socio-
economic fabric of its civilization. The
State with a net geographical area of
10.14 M ha, has four agro-ecological
zones viz. Sub-tropical zone (low hills,
300-800 m asl) and intermediate zone
(mid hills, 800-1800 m asl) falling in
Jammu Division comprising of 10
districts, temperate valley zone (high
hills, 1800-2200 m asl) comprising of 10
districts and cold arid Ladakh (very high
hills, >2200 m asl) comprising of 2
districts. It is important to note that net
cultivable area represents just 7.4 per
cent of the total geographical area,
besides 6.5 per cent being under forest,
3.3 per cent uncultivable land including
pastures and 0.9 per cent fallows. Only
41 per cent area is irrigated in the State
of which 92 per cent irrigation is
available through canals.
Agriculture and its allied fields like
horticulture, livestock husbandry,
forestry, fisheries and sericulture is the
primary economic sector of the State,
which engages about 80 per cent
population and provides about 36.3 per
cent of the net domestic produce of the
State. Agriculture is providing the people
the food as well as many other products
like vegetables, livestock, dairy and
poultry products for raising their income.
It is a major source of providing raw
materials to the agro-based industries.
T h e r e h a s , h o w e v e r, b e e n a n
unprecedented population pressure on
the cultivable land and average
cultivable land availability per head of
agricultural population is as low as 0.5 ha
only, whereas nearly 97 per cent fall in
the category of small and marginal
farmers with the average size of land
holding at 0.7 ha.
Land resource utilization, cropping
pattern and crop production
Fig.1 Land use pattern in J&K
Net geographical area 10.139 Mha
7.40% 82%
0.90%
3.30%
6.50%
Considerable transformation in
agriculture sector has been observed
during the last 50 years. Area, production
and productivity of different crops have
increased over the time but rate of
development has been slow. Similar
trend has been observed with fruit crops
and livestock development. Gross
cultivated area has increased from 0.689
to 0.987 M ha and cropping intensity has
shown gradual increase, though
maximum in Jammu region (176.8%),
followed by Kashmir region (123%) and
cold-arid Ladakh (106%).
Cropping system and pattern in Kashmir
and Ladakh are distinctly different from
that of plains. Temperate valley has agri-
hort (temperate),
semi-pastoral
L i v e s t o c k
Area not available for Husbandry (LSH),
Agriculture (82%)
cold water fishery
Area under forest (6.5%) and forestry
(mainly conifers),
Uncultivable land whereas cold arid
including pasture (3.3%)
region of Ladakh
Fallow (0.9%) has mostly
l i v e s t o c k
Net sown area (7.4%) h u s b a n d r y,
silvipasture and
agriculture (where
irrigation is available). Low cropping
intensity in these two regions primarily is

Epilogue Ø
25 ×
April 2008

constrained by climatic conditions. Crop
husbandry, livestock husbandry and
horticulture are severely affected by
prolonged severe winter, minimum
temperature may touch –10oC in the
o
valley to –35 C in Ladakh. To overcome
this agricultural structures and
environment center measures need to be
developed and applied. Polyhouses of
different designs have already been
adopted by many farmers enabling plant
environment control during extreme
weather conditions. Livestock sector
equally needs similar measures.
It is important to note that food
production is not keeping pace with the
increase in population, despite the fact
that food crops alone constitute more
than 65 per cent of the cropping area,
whereas in Kashmir more than 50 per
A) Area (lakh ha)
Rice
Maize
Wheat
Pulses
Oilseed
Total (major food crops)
Total
B) Production of food grains (lakh tones)
Rice
Maize
Wheat
Pulses
Oilseed
Total
C) Average productivity (q ha ) -1
Rice
Maize
Wheat
Pulses
Oilseeds
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
cent of net sown area is under paddy Increase in production of food crops has
cultivation alone. The valley is still facing primarily been the result of increase in
the severe problems of food shortage and productivity rather than horizontal
annual import of more than 2.5 lakh expansion of land. Under proper
tones of food grains is carried out to management reasonably good
maintain the consumption standard of productivity levels can be achieved.
522 grams per capita per day. The Using University rice variety Shalimar
situation demands a concerted effort on Rice-1, paddy productivity of 6-7 t/ha is
the part of government, public sector easily achieved but farmers have
institutions and enterprising farming recorded upto 5 q/kanal i.e. 10 t/ha
community to overcome the imbalance inspite of relatively low temperatures
and ensure food and nutritional security and irrigation water (snow melts) being
of the masses in Kashmir and Ladakh too cold.
region.
Early onset of witner and protracted
Food grain production witner, which is common occurrence,
reduces growing season and causes cold
The status of food grain production and damage. To get over this problem
productivity in Kashmir and Ladakh is as University advocates nursery raising
follows : under plastic tunnel or polyhouses to
advance transplanting and to protect the
plants against the bad weather.
Kashmir Ladakh Wheat is largely grown in Jammu region
1.43 - and some in Ladakh with rainfed crop
having 1.5-2.0 t/ha and 3.5-4.0 t/ha
1.07 -
under irrigated and proper management.
0.014 0.04 Rice-wheat rotation has been made a
0.09 0.008 reality now in Kashmir using University
0.358 0.007 varieties Shalimar Rice-1 and Shalimar
Wheat-1 which should go a long way
2.48 - meeting food and feed shortage.
5.442 0.055
Maize is concentrated in hilly areas,
raised often on hill slopes with average
3.72 -
productivity of only 1.7 t/ha, 1.9 t/ha in
1.04 - Jammu, 1.1 t/ha in Kashmir but there are
0.02 0.004 pockets in Doda where 2-2.5 t/ha of
0.84 0.050 quality maize is produced under rainfed
conditions. Maize composites with 4-6
0.028 - t/ha have been released by the
5.648 0.054 University, 3.5-4.0 t/ha in cold hill area
using Shalimar Maize KG-1/KG-2
varieties.
25.95 -
9.71 11.31 Successful maize + rajmash is also
10.16 9.90 popular with the farmers. University has
5.24 6.25 released five pulse varieties with 0.8-1.2
t/ha yield, superior lines are in pipeline.
5.80 - Productivity of pulse can be increased by
Epilogue Ø
26 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

application of Rhizobium culture
(alongwith PSB and VAM), recommended
doses of fertilizer (NPK) and manure,
protective irrigation and weed
management. Being deep rooted respond
to interculture, raised bed planting gives
better plant stand and protection against
water logging.
Fruit production
Apple : There were 46,189 ha under
apple in 1974-75 with average
productivity of 4.12 t/ha. Apple
production has grown, now there are
100,702 ha under apple with average
productivity of 10.34 t/ha. Ambri is a
native germplasm of apple valued for its
1. Shalim ar : M id bloom er, sem i-soft-shell, average yield
2-5kg/tree or 6.75 q\ha (unshelled).
2. M akdhoom : Late bloom er, sem i-soft-shell, 2.50 kg/tree
or 6.75 q/ha (unshelled) yield
3. W aris : Late bloom er, sem i-soft-shell, 2.41 kg/tree
or 6.50 q/ha (unshelled) yield
4. Parbat : M ide bloom er, soft-shell, 1.72 kg/tree or
4.64 q/ha (unshelled) yield
companion crop in saffron plantation. screened and released the following two
However, it was removed because of varieties being superior in their post-
perpetual damage due to frost. harvest characters :
University has developed/released
following mid and late bloomer almond Hamdan : Light coloured kernels, high
varieties : shelling percentage (>54%)
Sulaiman : Light amber coloured kernels,
52% shelled
Productivity of these varieties is

1974-75 2003-04
Area (ha) 46,189 100,702
Productivity (t/ha) 4.12 10.34
Am bri is native germ plasm , alternative bearer, susceptible to diseases
APPLE VARIETIES RELEASED BY SKUAST-K
Lal Am bri (Am bri x RD) Regular bearer, high organoleptic rating, 50 t/ha on M-9, HD-planting
Sunhari (Am bri x GD) Regular bearer, high organoleptic rating, 50 t/ha on M-9, HD-planting
Firdour (GD x Rom e Beauty x Scab resistant, 90-95% red colour, sub-acidic, m edium size
Malus floribanda)
Shireen Scab resistant, sw eet, juicy, m edium size fruits, term inal bearer
Akbar High yielder, sw eet, big size fruit, spur bearer, 90% red, 50-60 t/ha

aroma and long shelf life but an alternate
bearer and has become susceptible to
disease (apple scab) San Jose Scale and
pest. Red Delicious is reigning
commercial apple variety which needs
diversification, it has low shelf life and
also not a regular bearer. University has
developed 5 apple varieties.
Almond : It is a high value nut. There
were 9361 ha under almond in 1974-75
with average productivity of 0.16t/ha
(unshelled) which has increased to 16,
679 ha with average productivity of 0.86
t/ha. It is rather too low productivity
because it is mostly rainfed. It is
relatively low but they flower at a time
that by-passes frost period and give
reasonable yield. There is urgent need to
increase productivity of almonds in
Kashmir through intensive R&D specially
breeding and management.
Walnut : It has very good demand in
foreign markets and it earns about Rs.
120 crores in foreign exchange. However,
it is a highly cross-pollinated crop mostly
of seedling origin. Seeded walnut takes
10-12 years to fruit, too long an
unproductive period. Hardly any inputs
are given to walnuts, these are defacto
organic products. University has
University has succeeded advancing
bearing in walnut by using grafted
sampling bearing starts from 3rd/4th year.
University has succeeded in having
higher success rate under low cost
polyhouses condition (70-80%) better
than using electric operated costly Hot
Callusing Cable (HCC) System.
Production of grafted samplings of
identical clones should be taken up in a
big way to increase walnut production.
Grafted walnut at 8 x 8m spacing can
yield more than 2.5 t/ha (unshelled).
Average productivity of walnut has
increased from 0.79 t/ha (1974-75) to
1 . 3 7 t / h a ( 2 0 0 3 - 0 4 ) . Wa l n u t

Epilogue Ø
27 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

management especially irrigation, and of Pok has rich biodiversity in apricots Vegetable production
nutrient application need to be and some of the varieties known for their
addressed. quality. The following apricot varieties Dietary awareness has resulted in major
raised in Kashmir Division are : shift in food habits of the people who now
Cherry : It is a fruit crop of Kashmir prefer low fat, low cholesterol foods rich
where it has monopoly in India. It is also a Apricots have varied use as fresh fruit, in vitamins, phytomins, minerals and
dietery fibres thus marked spurt in
1. Double : Larger fruits with dull colour, shelf life are relatively larger. demand for quality vegetables. In Jammu
and Kashmir vegetables are grown on
2. Mishri : Dark red colour sweet fruits 57,300 ha with annual production of 9.96
lakh tones providing 206 g/caput/day.
3. Makhmali : Datrk red colour sweet fruits
Average productivity of vegetables in
J&K is 17.38 t/ha against national
4. Awwal : Early maturing
average of 15.03 t/ha. Higher vegetable
productivity is in Ladakh region (29.5
deciduous of fruit crop. There were 654 sun and solar and osmodehyderated
t/ha) followed by Kashmir (21.56 t/ha)
ha under cherry in 1974-75 with a apricots. Dehyderated apricots are used
and lowest in the Jammu region (13.26
production 510 t, an average as prunes in developed world thus are
t/ha).
productivity 0.78 t/ha which has exportable commodity if hygiene and
increased over to 2531 ha with annual quality is maintained. Sulphiting and
production of 7308 t and an average osmodehyderation yield attractive Though area, production and
productivity of 2.89 t/ ha. However, colour. productivity have improved over the
productivity of cherry in advanced years, productivity in J&K is still much
countries has reached to 40-50 t/ha. It is Solar dryers and sulphiting technique lower than developed nations, 40 t/ha
a fruit with very short shelf life of about developed by SKUAST-K and under open field conditions and 60 t/ha
7d. Gummosis is wide spread and lot of Osmodehyderation developed by RRL on average under protected conditions.
fruit is lost due to cracking in the event of Jammu need to be promoted to preserve
untimely rain. The cherry varieties raised this highly perishable nutritive fruit for Area under vegetable production and
in the Valley are : better economic dividends. Wild productivity break up (2003-04)
apricots are good for soil conservation
Apricot : Apricot, Zardalu (Hindi), and can be raised on hill slopes and
Factors responsible for low productivity
Khoobani (Urdu), Ctcheir (Kashmiri) is undulating areas. Its leaves are good feed
of vegetables include :
major fruit crop of the Ladakh region and to sheep and goats and the wood has
also raised in the valley. It has wide several economic uses, kernel oil is
Non-availability of quality seed, as a
result farmers depend on their own seeds
1. Charmagz : A sweet apricot cultivar raised in the valley, pulp and
kernel both sweet, kernel used as almond substitutes. which are often of inferior quality.
Government and other public sector
2. Kaisah : A sweet apricot cultivar raised in the valley. organizations produce very little
vegetable seed.
3. Gilgati Sweet : Sweet apricot from Gilgit region raised in Kargil locally
known at ‘Bota Cher’
Because of low replacement rate of
vegetable seeds, farmers use (certified)
4. Helman : Sweet apricot widely grown in Kargil region, possibly of
Afghan origin. seed for 3-4 generations by which they
are degenerated genetically.
5. Khantae : Wild apricot having sweet pulp but bitter kernel widely
grown in Leh and Kargil. Kernels are used as oilseed. Low level of adoption of improved
production technologies, usually
adaptation, grows all over J&K except considered of medicinal value, stems traditional, INM and IPM not put to
Jammu and Kathua district. Skardu area yield edible gum etc. practice.

Epilogue Ø
28 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

temperatures is better suited in J&K

S. No. Region Area 000, /ha Production 000,t Productivity, t/ha
than other states practicing protective
farming.
1. Jammu 30.000 398.00 13.26

2. Kashmir 26.154 564.38 21.56 Popularization of off-season vegetable

cultivation :
3. Ladakh 1.150 33.92 29.50
High altitude areas of the Valley and
Total 57.304 996.308 17.38 Ladakh can produce off-season
vegetables for the plains with great
Source: Department of Agriculture Kashmir 2004,
economic advantage, specially those
Department of Agriculture, Jammu 2004 (unpublished)
areas where protective irrigation can be
Non-adoption of high yielding, resistant be produced in the region and made provided.
varieties and hybrids. available to the farmers as well as seed
producers. Vegetable seed production Achieved and expected yield levels of
Biotic and abiotic stresses. can be taken up in the Valley and Ladakh some important vegetable crops
in a big way.

Inadequate irrigation facility, 60% of

vegetable crops raised under rainfed S. Crop Yield obtained by farmers Expected
conditions. No. (q/ha) yield (q/ha)
1 Tomato 180-200 440-460
Environmental hazards, late snowfall and
incidence of frost damage are not 2 Brinjal 80-100 290-310
uncommon. Due to high temperature low
3 Chillies 60-80 100-110
and RH cucurbits suffer due to poor
pollination. 4 Sweet 80-100 225-300
pepper
Financial constraints of many farmers
prevents use of costly inputs. 5 Turnip 180-200 350-470
6 Cabbage 180-200 290-350
Poor marketing infrastructure.
7 Cucumber 100-150 250-300
High post harvest losses due to on-farm
Popularization of polyhouse technology : Though area, production and
storages for perishables.
productivity have improved over the
Vegetables early or late in the season years productivity in J&K is still much
Vegetable production in the region can
fetch much higher prices than main lower than developed nations, 40 t/ha
be increased by adopting the following
season crop. Polyhouse technology can under open field conditions and 60 t/ha
strategies :
help realizing this economic on average under protected conditions.
op p ortu n i ty. Prod u c ti vi ty u n d e r
Promotion of vegetable hybrids :
protected cover is much higher than Leading countries are USA, UK, Holland,
outdoor conditions, a productivity of 60 Japan, Israel, Korea, China, India etc.
Production of hybrid seed locally and
t/ha of capsicum and about 150-200 Within India there are wide variations in
their subsequent cultivation can increase
t/ha of tomato and cucumber. Crop is p r o d u c t i v i t y, t h e y i e l d s o n
vegetable production by 2-4 times. The
protected against insects and vectors of experimental farms with varieties and
seeds of vegetable hybrids developed by
disease. hybrids are 10.22 t/ha and 25.76 t/ha,
SKUAST-K or at national level and tested
on farmers fields or identified under respectively and are higher than
AICRP on Vegetable Improvement need to Polyhouse technology because of low average farm yields.

Epilogue Ø
29 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

Vegetable varieties/hybrids developed and recommended for release by SKUAST-K

S. Crop varieties Varieties Av. yield %increase in Status of varieties/ hybrids

No. (q/ha) yield over
check
1. Tom ato Im proved 416.00 75.70 Recom m ended for release by RCM
Shalim ar-1 & ZREAC 2005

2. Turnip SH-T-7 311.08 16.08 Minikit trial

3. Potato PP-48 306.60 51.31 Recom m ended for release by RCM
PP-2500 345.19 27.46 & ZREAC 2005

Hybrids
1. Brinjal SH-BH-1 674.07 139.58 Recom m ended for release by RCM
SH-BH-2 503.70 79.68 & ZREAC 2005

2. Cucum ber SH-CH-1 1226.63 179.13 Recom m ended for release by RCM
SH-CH-5 810.64 125.24 & ZREAC 2005

3. Sw eet pepper SH-SPH-1 544.44 99.59 Recom m ended for release by RCM
SH-SPH-5 437.04 60.08 & ZREAC 2005

4. Tom ato SH-TH-1 1088.88 76.88 Recom m ended for release by RCM
SH-TH-3 826.66 34.38 & ZREAC 2005

5. Hot pepper SH-HPH-1 268. 3 76.71 Minikit trial

SH-HPH-2 289.4 90.50
6. O kra SH-O H-3 257.8 29.00 Minikit trial
SH-O H-7 248.9 24.00

Livestock husbandry
Livestock husbandry is source of
livelihood for landless. State has 31.34
lakh cattle (46 crossbred), 8.10 lakh
buffaloes, 39.3 lakh sheep (70%
crossbred), 20.0 lakh goats, 0.35 lakh
yak, 65 lakh fowl, 5 lakh duck with 84.6
per cent under backyard poultry. Per
capita milk availability is 330 ml/day
against a national average of 210 ml/day,
but average productivity is still only 1000
l/lactation and during winter months
productivity drops down drastically.
Sheep and goats are reared under semi-
pastoral system. However, there is acute
shortage of meat and poultry. Against a
demand of 1200 lakh kg, production is
only 235 lakh kg of red meat, causing
severe strain on state's economy. Poultry
has to depend upon imported feeds;
severe winter adversely affects egg and
poultry production with steep rise in
morbidity and mortality. In this
background maize is a candidate that
deserves due attention and animal
shelter and environment control
measures become a necessity.
Livestock are of considerable importance
in Kashmir. The livestock population per
thousand persons is as high as 911 for the
State as a whole. The livestock also
provide the people with meat and
mutton, a valuable source of protein.
The production of meat has been
reported as 17.6 lakh tones. The
production of eggs reported in 2001 is
about 559 million a year. The livestock
population per thousand persons at 2644
is the highest in Ladakh. There are
around 1128 sheep and 865 goats per
1000 persons. The number of cattle and
yak are also very high here. Kashmir at
581 has the lowest number of livestock
per 1000 persons. There are around 273
cattle and 239 sheep per thousand
persons in this region.
There is paucity of feed and fodder for
the livestock especially during the winter
months as a result productivity suffers.
University is operationalizing rice-wheat
rotation in the valley which should
alleviate the crises to a certain extent.
During winter months most of the
ruminants thrive on dried leaves of
willow and keekar etc. Being a foodgrain
deficit region, feeds largely come from
the outside, as a result pelleted feeds in
the valley are relatively more expensive.
Sabzaar variety of oats is performing very
well and it should be popularized and its
quality seed made available to the
farmers.
The feed and fodder situation in
comparison to the number of livestock

Epilogue Ø
30 ×
April 2008
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

does not seem to be encouraging. Only 4
per cent of the area is under fodder
crops. The net sown area is in itself very
small and four per cent of that is even
smaller and far from adequate to take
care of the animal feed and fodder.
However, the land utilization statistics
show that the area under grazing land
and permanent pasture is about 2.8 per
cent of the total reported area. These
permanent pastures often take care of
the sheep and goats while fodder is given
to milch animals. The green fodder helps
better milk production as witnessed in
the State. However, NBSS survey has also
reported overgrazing and degradation
related to overgrazing in some parts of
the State.
Status of feeds and fodders in J&K
Source Availability of Requirement of
dry matter, Mt dry matter, Mt
Fodder 3.20
Concentrate 0.30
Total 3.56
The Ladakh region that is naturally less
endowed and dry has the maximum
number of livestock. The density in
relation to human population as well as
cultivated area is very high. Again the
livestock are more in the Jammu region,
compared to Kashmir valley. Severe
shortage of feed and fodder is seen in the
Ladakh region. Hence more region-
specific strategy is needed in the area of
livestock. This is because more than the
milk economy, which appears to be good;
the other livestock probably need more
attention, particularly from the point of
meat, mutton and wool production
together with enhancing pashmina
production and the livelihood
alternatives of nomadic people.
Addressing the need of rainfed
ecosystems
In order to meet the increasing demand
of food due attention is required to be
paid to rainfed areas and turn these so
called “grey areas” into green. The
following approach is required to be
adopted :
In the areas having high productivity of a
particular food crop, the emphasis has to
be laid on the strengthening of marketing
and price support so as to maintain the
productivity.
In the areas where the extensively grown
crops have low productivity, emphasis
has to be laid on introducing and
adopting an improved sustainable
technology to increase the productivity.
In areas
Deficit Mt where the
c r o p p ed
area is less
4.0 0.75 (19%) and the
productivit
2.0 1.70 (85%) y of crops is
l o w ,
6.0 2.45 (41%)
attempts to
replace the
existing crops with more efficient and
high yielding crops need to be given
priority.
Diversion of area specifically growing
coarse grain to other high value cereals
need to be encouraged.
Emphasis on growing short duration crops
so as to increase cropping intensity is
needed to increase productivity.
Increasing the marginal areas under
pulse or oilseed cultivation to increase
the returns and ensure nutritional
security.
In rainfed areas efforts should be made
to promote mixed cropping so as to
increase the water and nutrient use
effiency and ensure sustainable
production. Cereal-legume or cereal-
oilseed cropping sequence would ensure
additional income and higher production
of cereals, pulses and oilseeds.
Rainwater harvesting and its efficient
utilization should form important part of
the strategy which shall increase
production and productivity. The effort
should require adequate financial
support for equipment and
infrastructure.
Emerging challenges
In order to achieve the food security in
the region in terms of physical,
economic, social and ecological access to
a balanced diet and safe drinking water
so as to enable every child, woman and
man to lead a healthy and productive
life, the following challenges need to be
addressed in future :
Natural resource management : Soil and
water are two key natural resources in
agriculture and with continuous
exploitation these resources are
shrinking. Research on water use
efficiency through in-situ water
harvesting, watershed management,
micro-irrigation techniques and
plasticutlure needs to be strengthened.
Land use planning will be a critical factor
for sustainable agriculture in future. For
this soil, plant, water, vegetation,
climatic and socio-economic factors have
to be considered for drawing a land use
plan around arable farming, forestry,
pasture, agro-forestry, horticulture and
other uses.
Agro-biodiversity conservation :
Introduction of high yielding crop
varieties has increased uniformity and
genetic erosion. Conservation of genetic
diversity and gene pools is essential for
future genetic improvement of crop
plants and to meet the diversified and

Epilogue Ø
31 ×
April 2008

ever changing needs of mankind. Agro-
biodiversity includes genetic diversity of
plants, livestock, fisheries and microbes.
Biotechnology : Discoveries in the areas
of plant tissue culture and recombinant
DNA technology have opened up new
avenues and dimension for the crop
improvement. It has also helped in
reducing the cost of some costly inputs
like chemical fertilizers, pesticides etc.
Recent developments in the area of
molecular biology have made it possible
to genetically engineer the plants for
ameliorating some of the impediments
hampering agricultural productivity.
Integrated nutrient management :
Exhaustive crops and cropping systems
have hastened the pace of degeneration
of soil. Use of organic manure and
inorganic source in balanced manner
would ensure sustaining the biological
productivity of the soil. Emphasis needs
to be laid on plant residue management,
biofertilizers and associated cropping of
legumes with cereals especially in
rainfed and marginal farms.
Integrated plant protection and pest
management : To reduce the losses in
production, indiscriminate use of
pesticides is usually made. These
pesticides are by and large non-specific
and result in environmental pollution,
human health hazards and emergence of
resistant forms of target species.
Integrated pest management approach
based on synergistic use of resistant
varieties, adoption of appropriate
cultural practices, use of bio-pesticides
and biocontrol agents and disease
management is essential for sustainable
food productivity and maintaining eco-
friendly environment.
Post harvest technology and value
addition : Large scale post harvest losses
are a common feature in our food
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
production system. Rapid urban growth
and changing socio-economic factors
have resulted in escalated demand for
diversity of food and other agricultural
products. Increasing demand for quality
products and with globalisation of
markets, the post harvest intervensions
warrant high priority. The demand for
high quality horticultural and food
products has necessitated the
application of protected agricultural
technology, which will also help
promotion of agricultural export,
especially of flowers and high value
seeds.
Improved seed and planting materials :
Quality seeds of high yielding crop
varieties have been the primary factor
for increasing the productivity. Research
priority for characterization of varieties
using morphological, biochemical and
molecular markers is needed to
safeguard the piracy and ensure supply of
high quality seeds.
Livestock and fisheries : Livestock is an
important component of agricultural
system of the state particularly that of
small and marginal farmers in Kashmir
and Ladakh. Research and development
efforts need to be integrated and
expanded to improve this important
component of agriculture. Fisheries is an
area of considerable importance for farm
diversification in the state having large
number of natural water bodies. The
researchable issues include survey of
inland water bodies, potential and
problems of aquaculture, breeding and
production of high quality and more
productive fishes, feed formulations,
fisheries health, pollution of aquatic
system, survey and conservation of
aquatic biodiversity, waste utilization,
value addition, domestic marketing and
distribution, export related management
etc.
Epilogue Ø
32 ×
April 2008
Environmental sustainability : Increased
attention has to be paid to the impact of
agricultural technologies on ecological
sustainability as the farming will
intensify in future.
Diversified agriculture : As a
consequence of the importance attached
to growth oriented research on
agriculture, which came mostly from
crop research, the vast potential
available with other farm enterprises, by
and large, has remained under exploited.
Diversification of agriculture to include
livestock, fisheries, horticulture and
agro-forestry needs to be emphasized on
the basis of a scientific land use planning
for resource optimization. It would need
value addition, post harvest intervention
and efficient agri-business strategies.
Epilogue
Experts of national and international
repute have expressed the view that
Jammu and Kashmir is fairly food secure
as far as the food availability is
concerned more due to better PDS than
the complete self-sufficiency in
production. However, the analysis of PDS
data shows that the lowest ten per cent
in the rural areas do not consume much
PDS grain though they eat well. Probably
they depend upon the subsistence
farming or purchase of local grain, better
suited to their food habits. If a strategy
of large scale shift to non food crops is
taken, PDS has to be effectively
extended to the rural lower income
groups. Since poverty is not of great
concern, and affordability is ensured,
the government should take care of the
availability and distribution of food
grains.
Considering the natural resource health
of the region there is large untapped
potential to develop horticultural crops
 I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY

and agro-processing industries. A
systematic shift to horticultural crops
and high value crops such as saffron and
kalazeera would improve the incomes
and livelihoods of the people which will
ensure access to food and nutritional
security. This should be accompanied by
the extension of credit as well as
insurance with the insurance linked
credit cards.
Unemployment is a problem in Jammu
and Kashmir, though Ladakh region has
fewer problems. While poverty measured
in terms of the bear minimum
requirements is very low in the State, the
unemployment situation still prevails.
It is possible to shift to high value crops in
a group effort. Market linkages and agro-
processing linkages will have to be
developed. Given the natural resource
base and the human resource base
together with ideal climatic conditions
for growing high value crops, Jammu and
Kashmir has the potential to become one
of the most prosperous states of the
country.
In Ladakh region the process of
diversification of farming systems and
consumption patterns needs to be
accelerated through actually
reinforcing package of technologies,
services and government policies. The
huge difference observed between farm
gate prices of agricultural commodities
and consumer's prices needs to be
bridged. Fodder and feed banks are
essential for ensuring adequate animal
nutrition during winter. Steps to
achieve 100 per cent literacy need to be
accelerated.
ANWAR ALAM
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir

HOT BILLIONS
Centrally A/C Formally
Atmosphere with Hygienic Food
Kitties Parties, Get-together, Birthday

Contact us at :
VIJAY KUMAR MENON
Rehari Chungi, Jammu
Ph. : 2543498, Mb. : 9419143214

Epilogue Ø
33 ×
April 2008

Availability, Accessibility
And Affordability
Arun Manhas
Food security refers to availability of
food and one's access to it. A household is
considered food secure when its
occupants do not live in hunger or fear of
starvation. As a nation, we have come a
long way from an under developed nation
resorting to age old techniques of
agriculture and industry to one capable
of launching space vehicles and
exploiting nuclear power. Thanks to the
immense growth in science and
technology, we could achieve a potential
leap in the production of food grains
through what is termed as the Green
Revolution. Food security was once
defined as resulting from the interplay of
food production, food availability and
economic recess in terms of purchasing
power. Now it has one more dimension,
i.e. food utilization.
Agriculture occupies an important place
in the economy of the State. The share of
Agriculture and allied sectors in the
Gross State Domestic Product for the
year 2006-07 stands at 28.61%. On the
other hand nearly 70% of the population
in the State derives its livelihood directly
or indirectly from the Agriculture sector.
The total geographical area of the State
is 2.23 lacs sq. km including those parts,
which are under the occupation of
Pakistan and China. About 92 per cent of
the geographical area of the State
consists of high mountains rugged
topography and only 5 per cent is
available for cultivation. Jammu and
Kashmir is more or less food secure
because as per Planning Commission of
India only 3 per cent of the population is
poor, but this food security is sustainable
or not in the coming years is yet to be
seen.
The concept of the food security could be
related with agricultural productivity as
more the food grains means more food
security. Apart from this the growing
I N F O C U S
FOOD SECURITY
population has to be commensurate with
increase in agricultural production and
also the increase in purchasing power of a
common man. In Jammu and Kashmir the
causes of food grain deficiencies have
been low cultivable area, insufficient
progress in dry zone/rain fed agriculture,
stagnation in food grain production,
change in cropping patterns, faulty
public distribution system, inefficient
institutional arrangements.
The remedy for having food security
would be increase in agricultural
production as it being synonymous with
food security. Fruit cultivation is the
only cropping system in State which not
only helps in impressing biological
productivity and nutritional standard but
also assists in maintaining ecological
sustainability, earning foreign exchange
and providing direct and indirect
employment opportunity. Green
revolution also needs to be extended to
Jammu and Kashmir for witnessing major
increase in food grain production as
Punjab and Haryana. Moreover,
production of coarse cereals like maize,
Bajra and Jawar should be emphasized
which are suitable for drought prone
areas of the State.
The Government through investments in
vital agricultural infrastructure, credit
linkage and encouraging the use of latest
techniques should motivate each district
to achieve self-sufficiency in food
production. Extension of irrigation
facilities and other linkages from
agricultural and horticulture
Departments could be instrumental in
increasing the production. High priority
should be given to bridge the gap
between the potential and present yields
of farming system and great attention
should be given to harvesting techniques,
storage facilities and bioprocessing
methods.
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April 2008
Decrease in population would imply
adequate availability of food for more
people. Inadequate livelihood
opportunities in rural areas result in
household nutritional insecurities. The
planning should be conducive to
fostering job-led economic growth based
on micro enterprises supported by micro
credit and inturn increasing purchasing
power of people. The Government should
emphasize upon “Universal Access to
food”. The schemes like National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Mid
day meal, Food for work should be
religiously implemented which will
inturn provide desired nutrition to the
poor masses.
The effect of globalization is also to be
seriously looked upon Self-reliance and
self-sufficiency are now replaced by
export promotion policies, i.e producing
for the world market which often leads to
the negligence in the affairs of our poor
population. Currently food Corporation
of India (FCI) plays a role in price
stabilization through maintaining buffer
stocks and supply of food grains for
distribution through PDS. The role of FCI
and PDS needs to be re-looked upon, so
that the subsidized food grains reach the
target population. Role PRI's needs to be
strengthened.
What we urgently need is a dual policy
with specific short term and long-term
focus along with participatory
development and good governance to
solve our miseries, then only we can have
Jammu and Kashmir self reliant, self-
sufficient and food secure in its real
sense.
ARUN MANHAS, educated in veterinary
sciences, is an officer with J&K
Government
 P O L I T I C S
THE SEPARATIST LANDSCAPE

Roots Of Conflict
And Separatist Politics

Fayaz Ahmad Mir

The politics of separatism got strengthened in Kashmir with the dismissal and arrest
of Sheikh Abdullah on August 9, 1953.

Kashmir is the abode of various races and
ethnic groups whose history goes back
thousand of years. The Kashmiris thus
vitally differ in some respects from their
counterparts in the sub-continent. It is
the Kashmiri identity and the quest for its
survival and growth which made Kashmiri
People to resist the Mugals, Afghans,
Sikhs and Dogra regimes. Due to the value
of this identity, it is quite possible that if
both India and Pakistan honourably
guarantee not only the existence but also
the peaceful development of Kashmir,
most Kashmiri will prefer an independent
Kashmir”.
Kashmir as it exists today was created by
the British government in 1846 and was
handed over to Raja Gulab Singh through
the treaty of Amritsar. The treaty
impinged and sustained a big stigma on
the Kashmiri identity and on the state as
a whole. The treaty consisting of ten
articles makes no mention what so ever
of the rights and interests of the people.
However, the clash between Kashmiri
identity and Dogra usurpation was
noticeable when the treaty met different
small uprisings and finally the uprising of
1931.
With the changing circumstances in sub-
continent the Kashmiri Muslims
increasingly became conscious. It was in
1931 that the growing dissatisfaction of
the Kashmiri people burst into flames
and led to Kashmir movement. In order to
give the freedom movement of Kashmir a
secular character Muslim Conference
(framed in 1932) was converted into
National Conference in 1939. After the
conversion process the freedom
movement got divided into secular and
religious groups. The roots of the
separatist politics in Kashmir can partly
be traced to that split.
The roots of the separatist politics in
Kashmir partly lie in the sub-continents
partition in 1947. The indecision of
Maharaja to accede to either of two
dominions by August 14, 1947, because of
his own desire of complete independence
laid foundation for an instable Kashmir
polity. The Governor General of India
while accepting the instrument of
accession from Maharaja of Kashmir
assured that in case of any state where
the issue of Accession has been the
subject of dispute the question of
Accession should be decided in
accordance with the wishes of the people
of the state since the Kashmir situation
did not stabilize even after UN
intervention the separatist politics had
the fertile ground to grow.
Since Accession of Jammu and Kashmir
State to Indian Union took place not only
in haste but also in circumstances of war,
the decision itself left many groups in
Jammu and Kashmir State dissatisfied.
Even Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh
Mohammad Abdullah too were in essence
looking for an independent state of
Jammu and Kashmir. The war of 1947
largely limited their choices. The large-
scale disappointment of both pro-
accession and anti-accession forces
contributed to early political separatism
finding its foothold in Jammu and
Kashmir State. The first anti-accession
political group formed in Jammu and
Kashmir was political conference by G.
M. Karra.
All the events and political developments
of post 1947 era taken together should
leave no body in doubt that Sheikh
Abdullah was dreaming of becoming an
independent ruler of Kashmir and the
Anglo-US block was at that point of time
encouraging him to entertain such a
demand. However the politics of
separatism got strengthened in Kashmir
with the dismissal and arrest of Sheikh
Abdullah on August 9, 1953.
The separatist politics of Jammu and
Kashmir between 1953-1975 was run
under the auspices of plebiscite front.
The basic objective of the plebiscite
front was to press for the demand for
holding a free and fair plebiscite under
the United Nations Auspices. The Jammu
and Kashmir Liberation Front was formed
in 1964, which embarked on a campaign
to push for independence. Another
militant organization Alfata also comes
to light. Immediately after the theft of
the sacred relic from Hazratbal Shrine, a

Epilogue Ø
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April 2008

politics. Widespread irregularities in the
vote count and mass arrests of MUF
candidates in the elections aftermath
fuelled popular disillusionment with the
electoral politics. The candidates and
the agents of the MUF became the first
rank militants and separatist leaders in
early 1990's. Moreover the election of
1987 became immediate cause for the
uprising of the 1989 in Jammu and
Kashmir State.
There was a mushroom growth of
militant organizations in early phase of
militancy in J & K. It was estimated that
more than 100 militant organizations
operated in J & K. Although this militant
movement sought to achieve the single
objective of “Liberating” Kashmir from
the domain of India, but after the
mushroom growth of militant groups,
these become arch enemies of one
another. The differences occurred when
JKLF and its allies propagated the cause
of total independence from both India
and Pakistan. on the other hand Hizbul
Mujahideen (affiliated with the Jamat-i-
Islami) and its allies favoured the cause
of Kashmiri's accession with Pakistan.
The Hizbul Mujahideen and certain other
militant out fits like Muslim Janbaz
Force, Hizbullah, Tehrik-e-Jehad,
Operation Balakote, Al-Umar etc. at one
point of time formed a common apex
body called “United Jehad Council
(UJC)” in 1990. But since the eruption of
militancy in 1989-90, the need of a broad
political platform had been felt. This was
the necessity of militant outfits also.
Somehow no serious effort was made
towards its realization in the early years
of movement.
In terms of progress towards political
dialogue, within the valley itself,
however signs of consolidation and co-
operation were seen. The first aspect of
this was that the top militant groups
were all affiliated to the major political
P O L I T I C S
THE SEPARATIST LANDSCAPE
organizations and militant leader defer
to the political figures decisions on the
non-military aspect of the movement. So
rather than being isolated bands of
misguided youth, “the militants took
their cues from these well-established
political figures who are mostly veterans
of Kashmir politics.
The purposes were that political parties
guide and unite the militant groups. The
misunderstanding and group clashes
should be eradicated. There was strong
sentiment in Kashmir that political
leaders should guide and control the
militant movement and provide it
guidance and leadership. The high point
was reached when a broad multi group
Azadi movement was launched following
the militant upsurge. The beginning was
made by senior separatist leaders who
not only articulated but also
consolidated the movement in a cohesive
manner. These leaders to began with
came to be known as Pung Group (group
of five persons) while they were being
held together in jail 1992.
Thus it was on December 27, 1992 that a
strong need was felt for a broad-based,
ideologically flexible organization for
representing the Kashmiri sentiments in
a proper perspective. It was with this
intention on this day and year that
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took an initiative
and convened a meeting of various
organizations and individuals. The
second meeting was convened on 8th
March 1993 with the objective to have a
common strategy for unitedly facing the
situation in Kashmir, In this meeting it
was decided to have an organization with
different politico-social and religious
organizations. The representatives of
different groups invited to this meeting
expressed grief and agony over the
situation in Kashmir and condemned the
large-scale killing of the people of
Kashmir. In this joint conference the
Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
leaders formed a joint committee to
carry the political movement to its
destination. The monitoring committee's
task was to stop the inter group clashes
among the different militant outfits. The
committee consisted of Syed Ali Shal
Geelani, Molvi Abbas Ansar, S. Hamid, G.
M. Batt, Shabir Sadeeqi, Yousef-ul-Umar,
Peer Hfiz-ullah Mukadoomi and Molvi
Mobarki. In this meeting another sub-
committee was also set up to draft a
constitution for the new organization.
Thus finally the conglomerate of APHC
came to existence. On the one hand, it
gave a united political platform to the
militants to settle down their inter-group
conflicts and on the other the Hurriyat
could now in a united manner present the
conflict in Kashmir in proper perspective
before the bar of world public opinion.
The formation of Hurriyat was realization
of urges and aspirations of the
suppressed people. So the growth and
development of the APHC can be traced
to the 1993 phase of the Kashmir
militancy. APHC which claims to be sole
representative organization of Kashmiri
people has achieved some success in
presenting the Kashmir conflict
according to their perspective before
various international forums. APHC
through different techniques and
strategies has mobilized people for what
they called the final settlement of
Kashmir Issue. In an atmosphere of
violence and conflict the political space
vacated by established political parties
was occupied by APHC. It has been
possible only by the support and co-
operation of the Kashmiri people that
APHC could emerge as a legitimate body.
The APHC was formed with a set of
objectives dealing with how conflict can
be terminated and peace restored in the
state. The objectives are as under:
To make peaceful struggle to secure for
the people of the state of Jammu and

new political party, Awami Majlis-i-Amal
was formed with Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq as
chairman. It also stood committed to
plebiscite to resolve the Kashmir Tangle.
After the holy relic movement there was
a phenomenal rise in the separatist youth
politics in the state. To start with youth
politics in the state like the Front and
other like minded organization had the
slogan of right to self-determination as
their main plank and their movement was
by and large peaceful, with no trace of
violence in it. The fragmentation of
youth organization and multiplicity of
their number however infused an
element of militancy in some of them.
From that point of view these militant
organizations can be compared to
present organization which too are
largely manned by young leaders.
The 1975 Accord resulted in a setback to
the separatist politics in Jammu and
Kashmir but it could not mark the end of
the separatist sentiment in the state.
There were some elements in the
plebiscite front which were opposed to
this accord. Mahaz-i-Azadi launched by
Late Sofi Akbar, Jamat-i-Islami, People's
League and JKLF were important
organizations, which questioned
Kashmiri Accession to India and emerged
main anti-accord organizations. From
1977 to 1982 the separatist youth
movement virtually died down. It was
only after the death of Sheikh Abdullah
that the separatist groups started gaining
strength and intensifying their activities.
After the death of Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah political scene in and out side
the state under went great
transformation. Externally former Soviet
Union had intervened in Afghanistan
giving rise to Islamic forces. There was
Islamic revolution in Iran as well, which
had its impact on worldwide Islamic
groups and organizations. Further, Zia-
ul-Haq's consolidation of Power for
P O L I T I C S
THE SEPARATIST LANDSCAPE
eleven years in Pakistan with manifest
anti-Indian policies too had an impact on
internal political situation in Jammu and
Kashmir. Internally, centre state
relations in spite of 1975 accord would
not always move in right direction, more
so after the death of Sheikh Abdullah
successive central governments
The 1975 Accord resulted in a
setback to the separatist politics in
Jammu and Kashmir but it could
not mark the end of the separatist
sentiment in the state. There were
some elements in the plebiscite
front which were opposed to this
accord. Mahaz-i-Azadi launched
by Late Sofi Akbar, Jamat-i-
Islami, People's League and
JKLF were important
organizations, which questioned
Kashmiri Accession to India and
emerged main anti-accord
organizations. From 1977 to
1982 the separatist youth
movement virtually died down. It
was only after the death of Sheikh
Abdullah that the separatist
groups started gaining strength
and intensifying their activities.
especially during congress rule created
impediments in the centre state
relations. The manner in which Indira
Gandhi tried to coerce Farooq Abdullah
during 1983 elections and launched a
communal campaign in Jammu against
him and finally unconstitutional
dismissal of Farooq Abdullah in 1984
Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
further widened the negative
perceptions and created a huge space of
dissatisfaction in Kashmir which was
immediately filled up by religious and
extremist forces. The last nail in the
Coffin was the Rajiv Farooq Alliance and
emergence of Muslim United Front (MUF)
as a formidable force in 1987 elections.
In the year 1986 a new political grouping
called Muslim United Front was formed in
order to fight the National Conference
Congress alliance. The major aims and
objective of MUF centered around issues
such as promotion and protection of
Islamic solidarity, adherence to the
fundamental principles of Islam
maintaining its cultural distinctiveness,
precious heritage and traditions
promoting co-operation among Muslims.
MUF's entry into the election in 1987
changed the entire complexion of the
electoral politics in the state. It made
the contest quite tough and close in the
Muslim dominated constituencies,
especially in the Kashmir Valley. It was
for the first time that national
conference after its revival in 1975 had
faced a real challenge to its hegemonic
position. After the elections the coalition
government headed by National
Conference increasingly turned hostile
towards political opponents. All the
candidates of the front who were
defeated were arrested along with their
prominent supporters immediately after
the results were announced. Some of
them were arrested right inside the
counting hall and were beaten up
publicly by the police and N.C.
candidates jointly. Most of them were
detained under public safety act to
different jails of the state.
Thus the denial of democracy witnessed
in 1987 was the last straw that broke the
camels back. In this way the elections of
1987 marked a watershed in Kashmir

Kashmir the exercise of the right of self-
determination in accordance with the UN
Charter and the resolutions adopted by
the UN Security Council. However, the
exercise of the right of self-
determination shall also include the right
to independence as explained hereafter
in sub-clause (ii)
To make endeavors for an alternative
negotiated settlement of the Kashmir
Dispute amongst all the three parties viz;
(a) India (b) Pakistan (c) People of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir, under the
auspices of UN or any other friendly
countries provided that such settlement
reflects the will and aspirations of the
people of the state.
To project the on-going struggle, in the
state before the nations and
governments of the world in its proper
perspective as being a struggle directed
against the forcible and fraudulent
occupation of the state by India and for
the achievement of the right of the self-
determination of the people.
To make endeavours in keeping with the
Muslim majority character of the state
for promoting the building up of a society
based on Islamic values, while
safeguarding the right and interests of
the Non-Muslims.
To make endeavors for the achievement
of any objectives which may be
ancillary or incidental to the objectives
P O L I T I C S
THE SEPARATIST LANDSCAPE
specified above.
After the examining the set objectives of
APHC, The broad perspective that
emerges is:
First, though APHC emerged as the
political face of the militant movement it
nevertheless stressed upon the peaceful
means to be employed for attainment of
objectives. Second, it still feels that
dispute can be resolved by implementing
UN Resolutions on Kashmir, it needs to be
mentioned here that the UN Resolutions
provided only for two alternatives i.e.
accession to India or Pakistan. Third,
conscious of growing urge in Kashmir for
an independent state the APHC in its
constitution clarified that right of self-
determination would also include the
third option of independence of the
Jammu and Kashmir state. One can also
add that inclusion of third option was a
way of reaching out to Jammu Kashmir
Liberation Front, a constituent of All
Parties Hurriyat Conference. Fourth,
conscious of changing political situation
in India and Pakistan after 1971 breakup
of Pakistan and emerging international
realities APHC does not close its eyes to
any other alternative settlement of
Kashmir conflict provided aspirations of
the people are taken into account. It was
partly in recognition of changing geo-
political situation in sub-continent.
Fifth, APHC believes in presenting the
Kashmir Issue before the Nations of the
world in proper perspective, in
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April 2008
highlighting what they call the
fraudulent occupation of the state by
India. Sixth, while recognizing the
Muslim majority character of the state
the APHC maintains that such a character
of the state the APHC maintains that such
a character of the state needs to be
preserved. It asked for preservation of
Islamic values but at the same time
safeguarding the interests of the Non-
Muslims. The very fact that Non-Muslims
could not join the APHC, and APHC failed
to have a concrete programme for
religious minorities, reduced it to a
Muslim-Kashmir centric Organization.
The organization also could not reach out
to other regions and communities of the
state.
The ideological differences within and
between constituents of the APHC came
to the surface with the commencement
of 2002 Assembly election. The State
Assembly Election 2002 placed APHC into
the cliff-stick situation. The
conglomerate was not in a position to
clarify to the people whether they should
boycott these elections or not. This time
the leaders of the APHC were not
unanimous to launch a door-to-door
boycott campaign against this election
which otherwise they used to do in the
elections of 1996, 1998 and 1999. The
hardliner leaders led by Syed Ali Shah
Geelani of this apex body openly
denounced the process of holding
elections and thus asked for a complete
boycott. Most of the APHC leaders

particularly from moderate camp
remained tight lipped about these
elections and did not utter even a single
word whether the people should boycott
or participate in these elections. This
ultimately created a deep conflict
between the leaders of the conglomerate
and they began to level serious charges
against one another.
Not only this, the hardliners and the
moderates blamed each other for a
sellout on Kashmir. The final shot was
fired when Syed Ali Shah Geelani of
Jamat-I-Islami blamed Sajad Gani Lone
of People's Conference for fielding proxy
candidates in these elections and thus
bartering the Kashmir Cause. He asked
for strict action by APHC against Sajad
Gani Lone but the plea was rejected by
majority of the APHC Executive members
and thus giving a clean chit to Mr. Sajad
Gani Lone by its newly elected Chairman
Molvi Abbas Ansari. The response to the
election process proved a destabilizing
factor for the APHC which got divided
into two groups. One led by Molvi Abbas
Ansari is known as APHC (Ansari) and the
other group led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani
is known as APHC (Geelani). Both the
factions are trying to secure points over
each other and thus claiming the real All
Parties Hurriyat Conference. So far every
effort made by some top most separatist
leaders, eminent citizens, journalists
and academic intelligentsia have failed
largely to unite two factions which have
adopted parallel lines. Jammu and
P O L I T I C S
THE SEPARATIST LANDSCAPE
Kashmir Liberation Front led by
Mohammad Yasin Malik has not allied
with either of the two groups, so far and
thus adopted an attitude of impartiality.
Apart from other things the Assembly
Elections of 2002 also created an
element of dissension within the APHC as
already discussed. To conclude it remains
to be seen how far efforts towards
unification will succeed and how
Not only this, the hardliners and
the moderates blamed each other
for a sellout on Kashmir. The
final shot was fired when Syed
Ali Shah Geelani of Jamat-I-
Islami blamed Sajad Gani Lone
of People's Conference for
fielding proxy candidates in
these elections and thus bartering
the Kashmir Cause.
effectively the APHC can mobilize public
opinion for the same. On the other hand
the very relevance and legitimacy of the
All Parties Hurriyat Conference will be
tested in the wake of multiple challenges
emerging in and around Kashmir. Apart
from other things one thing is certain
Epilogue Ø
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April 2008
that the APHC will have to make use of its
mobilizational skills in order to make
itself relevant in the changing situation.
The Hurriyat will have to function in a
fast changing regional and international
political climate. It will have to make
fuller use of different strategies to reach
out to different sections of the society.
The international order in the aftermath
of 9/11 peace process in South Asia has
provided new changes to the APHC. Even
otherwise the domestic political space is
witnessing a lot of political
comprehension with concerns of the
people becoming acute.
It seems that the APHC is passing through
a difficult phase. First the split of
organization into two factions, second
the improvement in the Indo-Pak
relations and the likely fair that it may
overshadow Kashmir issue. The third
most important point is that the coalition
government has high-jacked the agenda
of Hurriyat conference. The People's
Democratic Party (PDP) also made
extension use of the separatist discourse
even while making on attempt to make
inroads into the political constituency of
the national conference. It even uses
green flag and the pen and inkpot (the
electoral symbol of erstwhile Muslim
united front). Thus above mentioned are
the important challenges before Hurriyat
conference and the conference has to
overcome these challenges and make its
presence relevant in the present
changing political scenario.