Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 12: The rapid and continuous conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies, commercial structures, orchards and other non-farm uses has sharply impacted Kashmir’s food security, pushing the region into growing dependence on rice and other food grains sourced from outside Jammu & Kashmir.
Official figures reveal that the Valley has lost nearly 34,000 hectares of cultivable farmland between 1996 and 2023, a trend experts say is alarming and unsustainable. The shrinking land bank has drastically reduced local food production at a time when population growth and consumption demands are steadily rising.
As a result, Kashmir now faces an overall food grain deficit of around 0.89 million tonnes, forcing reliance on supplies from Punjab, Haryana, and other states.
The region produces only 0.45 million tonnes of food grains against a need of 1.34 million tonnes, leaving a deficit of 0.89 million tonnes. Official estimates warn the shortfall could hit 36 per cent by next year and cross 50 per cent by 2030.
Farmers across the Valley say they have watched their fertile paddy fields vanish year after year.
“We used to harvest enough rice for the whole family and even store some for the next season,” said Abdul Rashid, a farmer from Pulwama. “Now half the land around our village has turned into housing colonies, orchards and other purposes. Young people prefer selling land rather than cultivating it.”
Several growers believe that unregulated conversion of agricultural tracts, coupled with inadequate incentives for farming, has discouraged many from continuing traditional agriculture.
Agriculture experts argue that the decline in farmland will have serious long-term consequences if the trend continues unchecked.
“Food self-sufficiency is slipping away from Kashmir at a worrying pace,” said an agricultural economist who has served at a senior level in the Agriculture department. “If 34,000 hectares vanish in less than three decades, imagine what the situation will look like in the next 20 years. The region’s dependence on outside markets will only deepen.”
Experts called for a strict implementation of land-use laws, promotion of high-yielding rice varieties, and increasing farmer incentives to protect what remains of the Valley’s fertile land.
Officials in the Agriculture Department acknowledge that rapid urbanisation has contributed significantly to the decline of farmland. An official said that although laws exist to prevent the conversion of cultivable land, violations continue due to population pressure and lax enforcement.
“We are focusing on modern farming techniques, land conservation, and awareness programmes,” the official added. “But the challenge is huge and requires stronger coordination among all departments.”
It is pertinent to mention here that in 2022, new government rules allowed landowners to convert farmland for commercial or industrial use with fewer restrictions. The 400 square metre cap on converting farmland for commercial or industrial use was lifted.
A district-level committee, led by the District Collector, reviews applications and must decide within 30 days. The owner pays 5 per cent of the land’s market value as a fee. If the land isn’t used as approved within two years, the permission is cancelled.
With local production unable to meet the region’s needs, Kashmir imports massive quantities of rice every year. Residents say that while market shelves are full, the dependence on external supplies makes the Valley vulnerable to price fluctuations and transport disruptions.
“Every household depends on rations from outside states,” said a resident from Pulwama. “If road connectivity is affected even for a few days, prices shoot up instantly. This shows how fragile our food system has become.”
Experts, farmers, and civil society groups agree that safeguarding the remaining agricultural land is crucial. Many are urging the government to strengthen enforcement against illegal land conversion and create better economic prospects for farmers to prevent further loss of farmland.
“If we keep losing land at this pace, future generations will have nothing left to cultivate,” said another farmer from north Kashmir. “Agriculture has always been Kashmir’s backbone, but now it is weakening.”
