Agriculture is the largest economic sector in India. Much of the Indian population depends on agriculture in the country and plays an important role in boosting its GDP.
While Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh control much of northern India’s agriculture, there are more regions in the Hindi belt whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture. One such state is Jammu and Kashmir.
When we talk about Jammu and Kashmir, we often relate it to tourism. However, 70 percent of the state’s population is directly or indirectly linked to agriculture, Krishi Jagran reported. The Kashmir Valley is rich in horticulture and sericulture, making it the richest part of the state. The state is home to fruit, vegetable and nut plantations. Due to the cold weather and good soil quality, it produces the best apples, cherries, peaches, pears and grains such as rice and barley. Kashmiri almonds are popular worldwide. Most homegrown crops, vegetables and fruit are exported nationally and internationally.
One of the most famous and expensive clothing products, Pashmina, is also manufactured in the state. Pashmina is used for making scarves and suits. It is light yet warm. The high-quality Pashmina varies in a thousand rupees for a meter of market. It is also exported across borders. Jammu and Kashmir is also famous for its carpets and handicrafts. Given the large share of agriculture in the state, the government plans to provide farmers with better returns to boost agriculture even more. The government plans to expand the existing custom rental and farm equipment banking sectors in the state.
J&K is also the largest producer of saffron in India. Last year, the Indian government introduced GI Tagging and new processing techniques in the state to improve the quality of saffron and make it the best in the world. For the same, a saffron park was also established.
With the right investment and more initiatives, Kashmir can become the agricultural hub in the near future.
Read all the latest news, breaking news and live updates from the parliamentary elections here.
