By: Mohd Amin Mir
In the lush and fertile Valley of Kashmir, where snow-fed streams once irrigated emerald-green fields, the cultivation of paddy was more than a profession—it was a way of life. The rhythmic planting of rice seedlings, the echo of folk songs in fields, and the shared labor of families harvesting together, formed the cultural and economic backbone of rural Kashmir. For centuries, this land was rightly celebrated as the “Rice Bowl of the North”.
But today, a quiet transformation is underway. Fields once brimming with golden grain are being replaced by concrete foundations, apple orchards, and commercial ventures. Paddy cultivation is in steep decline, and with it, the Valley’s self-sufficiency, cultural heritage, and rural livelihoods are being pushed to the margins. The situation is not merely one of agricultural change—it is a deeper crisis of identity, policy, and survival.
The Shrinking Footprint of Rice Cultivation
Two decades ago, approximately 80% of Kashmir’s arable land was under paddy cultivation. In districts such as Budgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, and Anantnag, rice farming dominated the agricultural landscape. Fast forward to 2025, and the picture is starkly different. Surveys and anecdotal reports suggest that in some districts, the area under paddy has dropped to less than 40%.
The reasons are many—ranging from economic to environmental—but the result is the same: Kashmir, once a net exporter of rice, now imports a significant portion of its rice needs from Punjab and Haryana. This increasing dependency is not only an economic liability but a strategic vulnerability.
Why the Decline?
- Urbanization and Land Conversion
The post-2010 period witnessed rapid urban expansion in towns like Baramulla, Sopore, and Anantnag. As land prices soared, farmlands became prime targets for real estate development. Lacking strong land-use regulation, many agricultural plots were converted into residential colonies, shopping complexes, or government infrastructure.
In many cases, landowners were lured by the prospect of quick profits. Unfortunately, what appeared lucrative in the short term has begun to expose long-term consequences—loss of productive land, displacement of farming communities, and rising food insecurity.
- The Rise of Orchards
The government’s encouragement of horticulture, particularly apple cultivation, has made orchardization a favored alternative. While an apple orchard may yield higher profits per kanal than a paddy field, the shift has led to monocropping and vulnerability to climate risks. Additionally, traditional rice varieties like Mushkbudji and Zagg are being lost in this transition.
- Water Scarcity and Environmental Change
Traditional irrigation systems like koul, kul, and sarband have been neglected. Streams have dried up, rainfall has become erratic, and glacial retreat is affecting perennial water sources. Paddy, a water-intensive crop, has become increasingly difficult to sustain without modern irrigation, which most small farmers cannot afford.
- Labour Shortage and Social Change
Farming in Kashmir was once a collective family activity. Today, rural-to-urban migration, declining interest among youth in agriculture, and rising aspirations have left fields without hands to till them. The growing reliance on migrant labor from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also signals a disconnection between the people and their land.
- Policy Gaps and Bureaucratic Apathy
Despite the rhetoric of agricultural reform, policy support for paddy farmers remains inadequate. Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanisms are either weakly enforced or absent. Crop insurance schemes are poorly implemented, and compensation for flood or drought damage often arrives too late—or not at all. Extension services have failed to modernize paddy farming or educate farmers on sustainable practices.
- Land Fragmentation
With each generation, land parcels are divided further among heirs, making large-scale or even medium-scale paddy cultivation unviable. The absence of land consolidation mechanisms results in scattered, inefficient, and often abandoned plots.
The Consequences We Can’t Ignore
- Food Insecurity
Kashmir is now increasingly dependent on rice imports. Any disruption—whether logistical, climatic, or political—could lead to supply crises and price shocks. Self-sufficiency in staple grains, once a strength, is now a question mark.
- Loss of Heritage
The decline of paddy is erasing intangible cultural traditions—harvest festivals, folk dances, traditional irrigation wisdom, and community bonds. The once-celebrated rouf sung during planting and harvesting seasons now belongs to memory.
- Rural Unemployment
Small farmers, tenant cultivators, and agricultural workers are losing livelihoods. As paddy fields disappear, so do seasonal employment opportunities. With few skills for alternate jobs, many rural youth remain unemployed, deepening the socio-economic crisis in villages.
- Ecological Impact
Paddy fields act as water sinks, supporting local biodiversity and recharging aquifers. Their conversion to non-agricultural use has contributed to falling groundwater levels, reduced bird migration, and ecological imbalance.
- Social Disruption
As agriculture declines, families migrate toward cities in search of work. This urban influx burdens civic infrastructure, while rural areas experience depopulation, land abandonment, and the collapse of traditional family structures.
The Path to Revival
While the situation is dire, it is not irreversible. There is still time—and scope—to arrest the decline and chart a revival. But it will require coordinated action, bold policymaking, and grassroots participation.
- Protecting Agricultural Land
The government must enforce strict land-use regulations to prevent indiscriminate conversion of paddy fields. Unauthorized constructions on prime agricultural land should be penalized. An Agricultural Land Protection Authority should be established to oversee zoning and ecological assessments.
- Introducing Guaranteed Income Support
Beyond MSP, a Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI) for paddy cultivators would incentivize continued cultivation. Farmers need to be assured that their efforts will yield financial security, not just fluctuating market prices.
- Strengthening Crop Insurance and Compensation
Insurance coverage must be universal, affordable, and prompt. Digital mapping, satellite imagery, and spot Girdawari can help in speedy claims processing. Compensation for crop loss must be time-bound and monitored by independent agencies.
- Reviving Traditional Irrigation Systems
Programs for the restoration of koul, kul, and small dams should be rolled out in collaboration with village panchayats and NGOs. Community-based water harvesting, check dams, and watershed management must be prioritized.
- Investing in Research and Branding
Agricultural universities like SKUAST-K and institutes like CRRI must focus on developing high-yield, low-water rice varieties suited for Kashmir’s ecology. Branding and marketing of aromatic indigenous varieties such as Mushkbudji and Kamad through GI tags can open premium markets.
- Encouraging Cooperative Farming
Fragmented land can be pooled under Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs). These collectives can enable better access to credit, shared use of machinery, collective bargaining, and crop marketing.
- Mechanizing Paddy Farming
Affordable small-scale mechanization—such as seeders, transplanters, and harvesters—must be made accessible at the village level. Machinery banks operated by cooperative societies can be an effective model.
- Engaging the Youth
Youth migration can be reversed by turning agriculture into a profession of choice, not of compulsion. Startup funding, agricultural innovation labs, and training in agri-business can bring young minds back to the soil.
- Linking Paddy to Tourism and Culture
Paddy fields can be developed as eco-tourism zones. Harvest festivals, folk events, and rice-based cuisines can attract tourists while reviving cultural pride and creating alternate income streams for farmers.
- Strengthening Agricultural Education and Extension
Agriculture must be made aspirational. From school curricula to university programs, a renewed respect for farming must be cultivated. Extension services should be digitalized and responsive, providing real-time guidance through mobile apps, helplines, and field officers.
Conclusion: A Time for Bold Choices
The story of paddy cultivation in Kashmir is more than just an agricultural trend—it is a mirror reflecting the Valley’s changing priorities, values, and vulnerabilities. The transformation from grain to gravel is not just physical; it is symbolic of a society moving away from its roots.
If timely action is not taken, we may lose not just a crop but a culture, not just land but legacy. But if we choose wisely—protecting land, supporting farmers, innovating with technology, and celebrating our traditions—we can script a revival. Let Kashmir once again resonate with the rustle of paddy fields, not the silence of cemented land.
Let the Valley not forget the song of its soil.
Cholhama Roshe Roshe or Malal Trevith TSR Saal Yikna.
