Spatial Variations in the Levels of Agricultural and Socio-economic Development in Jammu & Kashmir — A District Level Analysis

Abstract

The study has found the levels of agricultural and the socio-economic development in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The spatial variation has been determined with the help of seventeen variables related to agricultural and socio-economic domains. Z-score variate has been employed to remove the bias of scale of variables and then composite indices have been worked out to find disparity in the agricultural and socio-economic development across districts of the state. A positive correlation exists between the socioeconomic status and agricultural development. Two districts of the state (Jammu and Srinagar) have depicted high level of socio-economic development, but medium level of agricultural development, while four districts (Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Budgam) have shown high level of agricultural development and medium level of socio-economic development. The seven districts, viz. Kupwara, Ganderbal, Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda, Leh and Kargil, have revealed low development in both. The districts of Baramulla and Kulgam have shown medium level of development in both the domains. The study has indicated the existence of one-to-one correspondence between the levels of agricultural and socio-economic development, with few exceptions, across districts in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.