Inter-District Variations in Agricultural Productivity of Jammu Division of Jammu & Kashmir

Abstract

Jammu and Kashmir is primarily an agrarian state. Around 80 percent of its population is engaged in this sector. The state has huge variation in its agro-climate diversity as Jammu region has a subtropical and Kashmir has temperate climate. These variations make it idyllic for performing varied cultivation. The present research paper is an attempt to analyze the variations in agricultural productivity of major crops at the district level in the Jammu division for the period 2010-11 to 2016-17. The results show tremendous variations in the productivity of the crop sector across districts. The districts of the Jammu region have depicted very low productivity and wide variations across the districts. The variations in the productivity level of the major crops of the Jammu region have been found mainly in the hilly areas like Kishtwar, Doda, Poonch and Reasi thus depicting wheat and maize as the staple food of these districts. These variations at district level has indicated the need for evolving specific strategies at the district level for ensuring sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth in a state consequently in the country.