Mr. Gh. Hassan Mir	Mr.Javid Ahmad Dar
Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture	Hon'ble Minister of State for Agriculture

About Agriculture Kashmir

        The Jammu and Kashmir State is predominately an agricultural dependent economy and nearly 80% of its population is engaged in agriculture and allied occupation. Agro-climatically the State is divided into four distinct zones i.e. cold arid zone of Ladakh Region, temperate zones of Kashmir valley, sub-tropical zone of Jammu and Intermediate zone comprising of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and some parts of Udhampur. By virtue of varied climatic conditions, nature has bestowed the State potential for diversified Agriculture farming.

    In Kashmir Division out of total net sown area of 3.50 lac hectares, an area of about 2.10 lac hectares is irrigated. The per capita available area for crop cultivation i.e. average holding size is 0.53 hectares and 1.08 hectares in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh Region, respectively and the numbers of farm operating families are about 8.12 lacs.

        Rice, Maize, Vegetables and Pulses are the major crops cultivated during Kharief season while Oilseed, Fodder, Pulses, Wheat and vegetables are the main crops grown during the Rabi season in Kashmir Division. One of the major achievements has been that in the vegetable field the seasonal barrier has been broken and most of the major vegetables are cultivated in Kashmir valley throughout the growing season.

        The Agriculture Department is indispensable for the farming community as it serves as an essential and effective link between the Research institutions and the farmers. The Department brings to the farmers doorsteps the new technological advances in the field of agriculture and demonstrates its advantages over the conventional methods of farming adopted by the farmers. While on one hand, the latest technologies are being demonstrated to the farmers for their translation into Agricultural operations and on the other hand, the problems being faced by the farming community are referred to the Research Institutions as a feedback for their immediate redressal.

        The Department is a motivating force and implements the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other developmental programmers for the benefit of the farming community. Distribution of quality seeds of field crops, Introduction of new technologies, entrepreneurship development in the commercial agricultural activities, widening the knowledge base of the farming community by way of organizing training programmers on different aspects of modern farming are some of the key activities of the department.