Districts Of Jammu Research Articles

Bottleneck Effect Analysis in Indigenous Poonchi Chicken Located Near International Border of India and Pakistan

Background: Poonch is the remotest district of Jammu, India located near to line of control with Pakistan. Poonchi chicken is the first native poultry breed of Jammu region which is being characterized and registered with National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. Present study is the first study on genetic bottleneck assessment in Poonchi chicken population using recommended microsatellite markers. This study in Poonchi chicken would be of immense use in tracing evolutionary origin and formulating effective conservation strategies for genetic diversity within breeds. Methods: Blood samples were collected randomly from Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu for DNA extraction and analysis. Microsatellite markers selected for the analysis were ADL0268, MCW0206, MCW0081, ADL0278, MCW0069, MCW0248, MCW0111, MCW0222, MCW0016 and LEI0094. To evaluate the Poonchi chicken for mutation drift equilibrium, Bottleneck software was used. Infinite allele model (IAM), two phase model of mutation (TPM) and stepwise mutation model (SMM) tests were done. Mode shift test was also used as another method of qualitative test for allele frequency. Result: Total number of alleles observed were 72, with the total number alleles ranged from 6 to 9. The results of all three models (IAM, TPM, SMM) in Sign test depicted the heterozygosity was more in the expected number of loci in Poonchi chicken as 5.97 (P less than 0.05), 5.93 (P less than 0.05), 5.90 (P less than 0.05) respectively. Whereas for Wilcoxon rank test the IAM, TPM and SMM revealed significant values of (P less than 0.05) deviation indicating that all the loci deviate from mutation-drift equilibrium. Mode shift test graph obtained depicted a slight shift from normal L-shaped curve indicating recent bottleneck effect in Poonchi chicken. This might have resulted in the loss of number of effective alleles which suggests a need of planning and implementing an effective breeding policy in order to preserve and promote this native breed.

Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Drinking in Various Districts of Jammu and Kashmir with Special Emphasis on Kashmir

Abstract: In India, groundwater is a valuable resource for humans, yet human activity has consistently reduced its quality. For the management of groundwater resources to be sustainable, an assessment of the quality of the groundwater is required. With the use of integrated-weight water quality index and multivariate statistical techniques, this study sought to assess the groundwater quality in the Indian area of Kashmir for drinking purposes. Eight water quality measures were included in the data, which came from 50 observation wells and included pH, total hardness, nitrate (NO3−), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and coliforms. The integrated-weight water quality index (IWQI), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA) were used to examine various districts. The majority of the metrics, according to the results, were within acceptable ranges, however some areas had excessive hardness and Fe contamination. More than 76% of samples had significant coliform contamination found in them. With four clusters of sample locations, the CA results showed that geological locations had a significant influence on groundwater quality. A PCA's three main components may account for 64.8% of the variation in groundwater quality. Groundwater quality was categorized as excellent (74.11%), good (45%), poor (6.4%), very poor (2.9), and undrinkable (9.4) based on IWQI values ranging from 4 to 2761. These classifications were linked to coliform contamination. These results have shed light on the region's groundwater quality state, which is helpful in creating a plan to safeguard the water supply.

Assessment of groundwater quality for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes in Aik Watershed, Jammu and Kashmir, India

This study assessed groundwater quality in the Aik watershed, spanning the Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, an area with productive agriculture and rapid urbanization. The research compared groundwater suitability for drinking with BIS standards and analyzed physicochemical parameters, including total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, pH, and various cations and anions. Groundwater samples were evaluated to determine their suitability for drinking, with a groundwater quality index computed. Additionally, irrigation suitability was assessed using indicators like sodium percentage and permeability index. The findings revealed that most groundwater samples are suitable for drinking, though 19% were impacted by fertilizers and industrial activities. Bicarbonate emerged as the predominant ion, often exceeding the recommended 200 mg/L limit. Excess levels of fluoride, nitrate, iron, sulfate, and chloride were also detected, attributed to both natural processes and human influences like industrial discharge and agriculture. Hydrogeochemical analysis indicated that groundwater chemistry is primarily governed by rock-water interactions. While most samples were suitable for irrigation, some concerns were noted regarding magnesium hazard and soluble sodium percent. The corrosivity ratio analysis confirmed all samples were safe for industrial use, indicating that groundwater in the area is largely suitable for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes.

An Economic Insights of Agricultural Sustainability in the Himalayan Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India

The agriculture scenario has witnessed a tremendous change after the independence of the Indian subcontinent. It had undergone number of reforms to protect both supply and demand side interests. The food security was ensured by increasing its production and the country has emerged as one of the top producers of number of commodities. The commercialization of agriculture shifted subsistence farming to a more market-oriented approach, where agricultural production is primarily aimed at generating income and participating in the market economy which involves increased scale of production, adopting modern technologies and focusing on cash crops and high – value commodities. However the unscientific use of these resources and indispensable application of inputs has led to several drawbacks like labour migration, shift to monoculture practices, decline in the water table, vulnerabilities in terms of food security during market fluctuations. Creating concerns of sustainability needs an immediate attention. Sustainability is to be assured to ensure food supply and for the balanced economic growth. Agricultural sustainability in Jammu and Kashmir is influenced by various factors. It provides production environment to a number of niche crops including apple, walnut, saffron, vegetables, major agriculture products etc., But its agriculture faces the unique environmental, social and economic challenges, despite known for their rich ecological diversity. Though essential, the urbanization results in the shift of productive land to undesirable use which may lead to ecological implications. This background necessitated a comprehensive attempt to examine the sustainability of agriculture in relationship with various economic, ecological and social indicators with an intention to come up with findings having greater policy implications for long term sustenance of agrarian economy in J&K. Shopian(0.604) ranked first among all the districts in terms of Agricultural sustainability, followed by Jammu(0.598) and Kathua(0.564) and least performing districts were found to be Srinagar(0.406), followed by Ramban(0.413) and Kupwara(0.420). The calculated Composite Sustainability Index helps us to differentiate the districts based on their index value under various categories of the sustainability level.

Economic Analysis of Major Crops in Jammu Division of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India

This micro-economic study focuses on the cost and returns analysis for major crops (wheat, paddy, and maize) in the districts of Jammu, Kathua, and Samba in the Jammu division. Conducted at SKUAST, Jammu during 2023, the study utilized a multistage random sampling method to achieve its objectives. Data was collected from 360 sample farmers, covering aspects such as land-holding size, costs, and return structures. The costs associated with crop cultivation varied pointedly across the districts, with Samba incurring ₹14272.57 for Cost A2 and ₹33023.58 for Cost C3 which was the highest of overall costs. Jammu had the highest main-product yield of 25.22 quintals and by-product yield of 32.70 quintals. Jammu also recorded the highest fixed costs (₹13488.30) whereas the highest total cost was in Samba with ₹30021.43. Gross returns were highest in Jammu with ₹68303.22, resulting in net returns of ₹38740.29. Jammu also had the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1:2.30, as well as the highest family labor income and farm business income (₹41755.29 and ₹43060.92, respectively). The rental value of owned land (Cost B2) suggestively impacted final costs, and Jammu district emerged as the most economically favorable for major crop cultivation. Overall, it depicted the possible profitability from cultivation of major crops like wheat, paddy and maize, that may encourage the farming community specially the youngsters to choose agriculture over private sectors, which would ultimately contribute to meet the state demand as well as contribution to SGDP.

Age-dependent dose assessment of uranium exposure in groundwater of Ganderbal and Budgam districts in Jammu and Kashmir

ABSTRACT Using an LED fluorimeter Quantalase LF-2a, the uranium concentration of the groundwater in the Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir was assessed at 30 distinct places. It has been determined that the uranium concentrations in the districts of Ganderbal and Budgam vary from 0.17 to 1.36 μgl−1 and 0.04 to 1.71 μgl−1, respectively, with average values of 0.32 and 1.71 μg−1. It is observed that newborns are more radiation-sensitive than adults. The epidermis, thyroid gland, red bone marrow, and bones receive the maximum radiation doses. As a result, these organs are more vulnerable to uranium's radioactive effects. In the current investigation, every sample has been found to fall within the 30 μgl−1 allowable limits established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Spatial clustering of overweight/obesity among women in India: Insights from the latest National Family Health Survey.

Overweight/obesity has become global health concern with increasing prevalence. This study examined district-level disparities and spatial clustering of overweight/obesity among women of reproductive age (WRA) in India using the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) data. Information of 623,656 women aged 15 to 49 from the NFHS-5 (2019-2021) were analysed in this study. The outcome variable was BMI as classified by the world health organisation (WHO). Utilising Global Moran's I, Anselin's Local Moran's I, and spatial regression models spatial clustering and associated factors were analysed. The study found that 24% (95% CI: 23.8-24.3) of WRA in India were overweight/obese in 2019-21. The prevalence was greatest in Punjab (41%) and lowest in Meghalaya (11%). Additionally, the Global Moran's I value for the outcome variable was 0.73, indicating a positive spatial autocorrelation in the overweight/obesity. Districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Delhi were hotspots of overweight/obesity. Several factors of overweight/obesity among WRA were identified, including place of residence (β: 0.034, p: 0.011), parity (β: 0.322, p: 0.002), social group (β: -0.031, p: 0.016), religion (β: -0.044, p: <0.001), household wealth status (β: 0.184, p: <0.001), mass-media exposure (β: 0.056, p: 0.031), and diabetes (β: 0.680, p: <0.001). The study emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions and region-specific strategies, while also stressing the need to address associated factors to develop effective public health initiatives aimed at reducing overweight/obesity prevalence among WRA in India.

Extreme value analysis of precipitation and temperature over Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh in western Himalaya, India

Climate change has become a major issue for the world today. Small changes in the climate in the Himalayan region can have a significant impact on the delicate ecosystem, which is very sensitive to such changes. Recent investigations into climate change in the Western Himalayas have provided compelling evidence that these regions are especially susceptible to a wide variety of catastrophic occurrences. In the current scenario, the threat posed by climate change to human existence in Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K), as well as the region of Ladakh, has grown more tangible and evident. Temperature and precipitation statistics could be used to observe this regional climatic shift. This study analyses and forecasts long-term spatio-temporal variations in precipitation and temperature using a century-long dataset from 1901 to 2002 over 14 districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test and the Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin (KPSS) test of stationarity on the data show that the time series is stationary. Extreme Value Theory (EVT), which is an outstanding statistical method to interpret the records for the estimation of the future probability of the occurrence of extremes, is utilised in this study. Further, precipitation and temperature extremes are forecasted for 50, 80, 100, 120, 200, 250, 300, and 500 year return periods respectively and results reveal that the districts- Jammu, Rajouri, Leh, Srinagar, Baramulla and Poonch will be more prone to extreme weather events phenomenon.

Estimation of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity from the Soil Samples of Ganderbal and Budgam Districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract The study of radionuclides is very important in our daily life as these impose health implications to the general public. In present study the estimation of radionuclides in Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Kashmir Province using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectro-meter has been carried out. Radium, thorium, and potassium activity concentrations have been observed to range from 25±3 to 33±5 Bqkg−1, 3±2 to 11±3 Bqkg−1 and 415±63 to 601±80 Bqkg−1with average values of 29 Bqkg−1, 5 Bqkg−1 and 514 Bqkg−1, respectively. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) for the soil samples has been evaluated and was found in the range of 107 to128 Bqkg−1 with the mean value of 116 Bqkg−1. It has been inferred that the radium equivalent activity (Raeq) lies in the permissible limits of 370 Bqkg−1 set by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Absorbed dose and annual effective dose (indoor and outdoor) values were found to vary from 34 to 43 nGyh−1, 0.17 to 0.21 mSv and 0.04 to 0.05 mSv, respectively. Also, hazard indices (external and internal) are calculated from the specific concentration of radium, thorium and potassium which are found less than unity as recommended by organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). Therefore, it can be concluded that the present study area does not pose any health implication to the general public.

Occurrence, toxicity load, pollution index and health risk assessment of trace elements in drinking water of two catchments in North-western Himalayas

ABSTRACT The study focuses on the analysis of trace metals in drinking water from the Ganderbal and Budgam districts of Jammu and Kashmir. We have used high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) to measure the concentrations of 31 trace metals in the water samples. The measured concentrations were then compared with the permissible limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and World Health Organization (WHO). The results of the study indicate that arithmetic mean of several trace elements, including aluminum (Al = 781), chromium (Cr = 139), manganese (Mn = 41.86), nickel (Ni = 25.89), molybdenum (Mo = 1.30), cadmium (Cd = 36.86), and mercury (Hg = 67.65), in µg l−1 were found to have concentrations higher than their respective permissible limits. On the other hand, the arithmetic mean of elements, such as beryllium (Be = 0.14), boron (B = 32.72), iron (Fe = 233), cobalt (Co = 1.79), copper (Cu = 10.71), arsenic (As = 0.93), selenium (Se = 3.13), strontium (Sr = 257), zinc (Zn = 43), antimony (Sb = 1.44), barium (Ba = 28.56), gold (Au = 0.91), and lead (Pb = 0.91) in µg l−1, had concentrations below the permissible limits recommended by USEPA, BIS, and WHO. To assess the toxicity of the heavy metals in the study area, we calculated the Heavy Metal Toxicity Load (HMTL) for each metal. Based on these calculations, we concluded that only cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) need to be removed from drinking water to ensure safety. The study also conducted a health risk assessment for children and adults based on the measured concentrations of heavy metals. The assessment considered the ingestion and dermal contact routes of exposure. The Hazard Index (HI), which indicates the non-carcinogenic health effects, exceeded unity for only one element, cadmium (Cd), in the children and adult groups. This suggests potential non-carcinogenic health risks associated with the ingestion of water and dermal contact. Additionally, the potential carcinogenic risk of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) was identified and recommended for further attention. The study further evaluated the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) to assess the overall quality of drinking water in the study area. The HPI results indicated that the quality of drinking water was good, and the pollution levels in the study area were low. Overall, the findings of this study provide valuable information for water resource development and supply agencies. The results can be used as a baseline for future research and monitoring efforts in the region.

Medicinal plant utilization among three linguistic groups in selected districts of Jammu and Kashmir

Medicinal plant utilization among three linguistic groups in selected districts of Jammu and Kashmir

An Exploratory Study of Scheduled Caste Undergraduate Students in Jammu and Kashmir

Scheduled caste is a backward section of Indian society. The educational resources and benefits provided to the scheduled castes constitute a substantial community. The population is still socially and educationally lagging behind other sections of society. Educational backwardness is the indicator of socio-economic inequalities in the structure of the Indian social order. Thus, in the present article, an attempt has been made to study the enrolment and dropout rate of scheduled caste undergraduate students in Jammu and Kashmir. The primary data in the present study has been collected from various colleges in the Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The findings of the study discovered a significant difference in the enrolment of scheduled caste male and female students. Furthermore, the dropout of male scheduled caste students was found highest as compared to females; however, the dropout rate of scheduled caste students is decreasing every year concerning both genders.

Morpho-cultural, pathological and molecular variability in Phloeospora maculans causing leaf spot of mulberry (Morus species) in India.

Leaf spot disease (LSD) of mulberry caused by Phloeospora maculans is a major threat to the silk industry of Jammu and Kashmir, India, therefore, it was necessary to study the population structure of the pathogen for successful management of the disease. To understand the diversity in the Phloeospora maculans, a combination of conventional (morphological, cultural and pathological) and molecular (ISSR markers) approaches were employed to discern the variability in 27 isolates collected from Srinagar, Bandipora, and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The studies revealed a high level of variability in the pathogen. Based on the morpho-cultural and pathological studies, the pathogen isolates were grouped into different categories based on colony growth, texture, margin and colour besides changes in colour of medium, incubation period, leaf area infected, etc.A high level of polymorphism was observed in different isolates of P. maculans using ISSR markers, which indicated that these markers are suitable for studying the genetic diversity in this pathogen. All the isolates (27) of P. maculans were clustered into two groups or populations as indicated by mean delta K value. Analysis of molecular variance revealed the low genetic variation among the populations (1.08%) and a high level of genetic variation within the populations (98.91%). Fst value was found to be 0.01 indicating smaller amount of genetic differentiation between the populations against calculated P-value of 0.29. A high level of diversity based on morphological, cultural, pathological and molecular levels was observed in Phloeospora maculans collected from various districts of Kashmir valley, which indicates that the study of population structure is necessary for successful management of the disease.

An Empirical Study of Infrastructure and Economic Development in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

This study compares the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of infrastructure and economic development and finds the districts are trailing behind in terms of infrastructure and economic development. The study also attempts to find a descriptive association between infrastructure and economic development across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir vis-a-vis indices. The study uses the secondary source of information collected from the district-level statistical handbook and Digest of Statistics, Directorate of Economics &amp; Statistics, J&amp;K, 2020–2021. For estimating the infrastructure and economic development across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the composite infrastructure development index and composite economic development index have been made by employing the Principal Component Analysis method. The study employs the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett’s Tests of Statistics in order to test the appropriateness of factor analysis for the data. The findings of the study reveal that there exist wide disparities in terms of both the infrastructure and economic development across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir and the large gap in the availability of basic infrastructure facilities across the districts describes the inter-district disparity in the economic development.

Spatial epidemiology of acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years and associated risk factors in India: District-level analysis of health, household, and environmental datasets.

In India, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years. Mapping the hotspots of ARIs and the associated risk factors can help understand their association at the district level across India. Data on ARIs in children under 5 years and household variables (unclean fuel, improved sanitation, mean maternal BMI, mean household size, mean number of children, median months of breastfeeding the children, percentage of poor households, diarrhea in children, low birth weight, tobacco use, and immunization status of children) were obtained from the National Family Health Survey-4. Surface and ground-monitored PM2.5 and PM10 datasets were collected from the Global Estimates and National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme. Population density and illiteracy data were extracted from the Census of India. The geographic information system was used for mapping, and ARI hotspots were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistic. The quasi-Poisson regression model was used to estimate the association between ARI and household, children, maternal, environmental, and demographic factors. Acute respiratory infections hotspots were predominantly seen in the north Indian states/UTs of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh, and also in the border districts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. There is a substantial overlap among PM2.5, PM10, population density, tobacco smoking, and unclean fuel use with hotspots of ARI. The quasi-Poisson regression analysis showed that PM2.5, illiteracy levels, diarrhea in children, and maternal body mass index were associated with ARI. To decrease ARI in children, urgent interventions are required to reduce the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 (major environmental pollutants) in the hotspot districts. Furthermore, improving sanitation, literacy levels, using clean cooking fuel, and curbing indoor smoking may minimize the risk of ARI in children.

Role of Self-help Groups (SHGs) in Enhancing Incomes of Rural Women in J&amp;K, India

Women are the most vulnerable section of our society and their agony in Jammu and Kashmir is more intensified during the last three decades due to prevailing militancy. They work round the clock but lack decision making powers in household affairs as well as in the society. The central and state government has launched several schemes for women empowerment and National Rural Livelihood Mission is one among them. Under this self-employment scheme, the rural women are organized in Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are provided funds for their upliftment. To understand the success in the performance of Jammu &amp; Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKSRLM) in terms of enhancing income of the women, a total of 80 beneficiaries selected through multi-stage sampling were interviewed by giving equal weightage to two districts of Doda and Jammu respectively. The results reflected that SHGs have played a significant role in the life of rural women in terms of enhancing income and employment. The JKSRLM is a great tool for concerted efforts to improve the economic conditions of the people, and the importance of education must not be overstated, since it influences the choices women and girls make about employment and income generation increasingly.

Spatial Distribution and Floristic Composition of Overstorey Vegetation in Zanthoxylum Armatum DC inhabited sites of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, India

The spatial distribution and floristic composition of an area is the outcome of various environmental factors, and needed to be studied for assessing the macro-ecological biodiversity patterns and framing a strategy for biological conservation. The present study was conducted in three Zanthoxylum armatum DC inhabited sites located in Kathua (Bhaddu and Sukrala) and Udhampur (Dhandal) districts of Jammu and Kashmir with aims of studying the distribution, ecological status, composition, and diversity of overstorey vegetation, especially Zanthoxylum armatum , and to define the soil attribute/s responsible for these characteristics of vegetation. The results of the study show that aggregate distribution (68.4 - 84.2%) was more common than random distribution pattern (15.8 - 31.6%). Ecological status of more than 50% of the species, including Zanthoxylum armatum , was rare in all the three sites. Quercus leucotrichophora , Pinus roxburghii and Pyrus pashia recorded the highest values for importance value index (IVI) in Bhaddu, Sukrala and Dhandal, respectively. As per Dominance-Diversity Curves, the most dominant species were following the geometric curve and hence utilizing bulk of the resources in the respective sites whereas other species were log normally distributed. Dhandal was the most diverse site having the highest values for species richness (19) and Shannon-Wiener’s index (2.59). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis depicted that Zanthoxylum armatum along with Cu at Axis I and available K at axis II were the driving variables responsible for the distribution, diversity, and floristic composition of overstorey vegetation in the present study.

Prospects of Sericulture in Border Areas of Jammu with Special Reference to Poonch District

The most significant economic sector is sericulture, which has a variety of entrepreneurship opportunities and the ability to increase regular periodicity of economic returns. The effective rate of rearing and the techniques used during the rearing stage are the most crucial factors in a good cocoon harvest. Additionally, technical expertise and scientific knowledge are needed for silkworm cultivation. An effort has been done in the form of a survey research to learn more about the knowledge and skill profile of the sericulture farmers in the Poonch area. The study found that farmers lack technical expertise in commercial rearing and scientific knowledge. Low productivity in the district as compared to other districts of Jammu and Kashmir is caused by a lack of understanding about new technology. In this context, State Sericulture Development Department, Central Silk Board Sub-departments, and Post Graduate Department of Sericulture, Poonch Campus, University of Jammu, play important roles in the form of extension programmes for enhancing technical skills among the district's sericultural farmers. The study unequivocally shown that there were significant differences in the socioeconomic condition of sericulturists among the farmers in Tehsil Haveli, Poonch District, and that these differences also existed in knowledge and implementation of sericultural methods. Therefore, the extension staff must work together to convey better sericultural technology to the farmers in order to increase cocoon output.

Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract: Agriculture is the main occupation for the people of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. About 65 per cent of the people are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Agriculture and its allied activities are the predominant sectors of the economy of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The cropping land use in the state also underwent drastic changes which led to a decrease in area under food crops and an increase in area under cash crops/plantation agriculture. The study of this shifting land use was necessary for the sustainable agriculture of the state. Knowledge of cropping land use helps in maximization of productivity and conservation of land. The study tried to assess the cropping pattern of land use and land change dynamics, the land use and land cover change among different land-use classes and to study the extent of productive and unproductive land-use patterns in Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The study has revealed a major shift of land from the desirable to undesirable land-use classes. The area under the three major food crops (Paddy, Maize and wheat) grown in the state has decreased at the state level though with regional variations, it has increased in some districts as well. But the area under paddy recorded a decline in all the districts and the area under orchards has registered highly positive growth in all the districts of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. Keywords: Agriculture, Land Use, Land Cover Change, Cropping Pattern, Jammu &amp; Kashmir

Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Jammu &amp; Kashmir

Agriculture is the main occupation for the people of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. About 65 per cent of the people are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Agriculture and its allied activities are the predominant sectors of the economy of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The cropping land use in the state also underwent drastic changes which led to a decrease in area under food crops and an increase in area under cash crops/plantation agriculture. The study of this shifting land use was necessary for the sustainable agriculture of the state. Knowledge of cropping land use helps in maximization of productivity and conservation of land. The study tried to assess the cropping pattern of land use and land change dynamics, the land use and land cover change among different land-use classes and to study the extent of productive and unproductive landuse patterns In Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The study has revealed a major shift of land from the desirable to undesirable land-use classes. The area under the three major food crops (Paddy, Maize, and wheat) grown in the state has decreased at the state level though with regional variations, it has increased in some districts as well. But the area under paddy recorded a decline in all the districts and the area under orchards have registered highly positive growth in all the districts of Jammu &amp; Kashmir