In the world, generally, the rise in population sends people pouncing upon uncultivated land to squeeze food for themselves. This has happened in the past and this is happening even today but ironically, it is a reverse trend here in Jammu and Kashmir as people obnoxiously are hell-bent over replacing cultivable land by concrete structures of least developmental value to the economy of the state. It is the insensitive attitude and non-seriousness of cultivators as well as the lack of concern on part of the government including the couple of agricultural universities in Kashmir and Jammu which are responsible for this agrarian mess the UT is in.
J&K’s peculiar geographic location and climatic conditions make it ideal for the growth of foods of highest quality. Take, for instance, the ‘Kashmiri rice’ grown here or for that matter the Basmati rice grown in certain Jammu regions. The stuff that grows here is priceless. The varieties of rice that arrive here from other states at highly exorbitant prices, are no match to our indigenous varieties. But it is nevertheless bought and consumed here, because our local produce is too little to feed us. While those involved with agriculture and no more interested to involve their children in the activity, as in absence of technological interventions, the yield is too little to fetch a handsome income, on its part, government also shares a lot of blame, for it has not accorded agriculture kind of priority it deserved and nothing much has been done to popularize it and develop it on scientific lines. In most of the cases, the agricultural land of the family gets automatically relegated into a material piece of property. This land is then sold off, even if for a fortune, but it very rarely gets recycled into a state wherein it would again contribute to production of food.
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Though from past few years, the government has taken certain steps to modernize agriculture and allied sectors, need is to make it more attractive, have special schemes for educated and jobless youth, The economic condition of the UT is very precarious and agriculture is the sector that could bail it out. But this is possible only if the people, and the educated young lot in particular, also start thinking of agriculture and related sectors as a sphere of activity to opt for a career in. The government need to come forward for hand-holding. The youth need a direction and once the government agencies become youth friendly in relation to agriculture and allied sectors, the jobless youth would prefer to invest in these sectors instead of looking for government jobs.
