Water Management & Dryland Farming

1. Water Management & Dryland Farming J & K State Presentation National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2012 5th and 6th of March 2012, NASC, Pusa Complex, ICAR, New Delhi

2. Dryland Areas in J&K State Net Cultivated area 7.52 lakh ha Net Irrigated Area 3.14 lakh ha Rainfed incl. Dryland Area 4.38 lakh ha Cultivable wastelands 1.50 lakh ha Fallow lands 0.88 lakh ha Pastures 1.29 lakh ha

3. Dy-land Areas in J&K State: Agro-climatic Zones Low Altitude Sub- tropical zone (Jammu etc) Sub-tropical Temperate Transitional zone (Rajouri etc.) Valley temperate & Mid to high altitude temperate zone (Srinagar etc) Cold arid to Semi Arid Zone (Ladakh etc)

4. Dy-land Areas in J&K State :Agro-climatic Zone-wise break-up

5. Dy-land Areas in J&K State :Agri-Ecological Zones* * Based on rainfall, potential & actual evapo-transpiration, Length of Growing Period (LGP), soils & physiography)

6. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Soil Health Status

7. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Soil Health Status

8. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Soil Health Status

9. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Extent of Land Degradation &Other Problem Areas Area under cultivation 4% Area of the State affected by water erosion followed by wind erosion, water logging and flooding 31.6% Area not fit for Agriculture because of rock outcrops, icecaps and glaciers; 56.7% Area affected by Water erosion 54.6 lakh ha. (24.6% of TGA) ;

10. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Extent of Land Degradation &Other Problem Areas Main areas affected by water erosion: Causes: Western aspects of Ladakh region, Deeply sloping landscapes, High altitude areas of Kashmir region Deforestation, overgrazing, Higher reaches of Jammu regionFaulty land use, constructions Areas affected by wind erosion Eastern aspects of Ladakh plateau Lack of vegetative cover Areas affected by water logging & flooding: Along Jhelum in Kmr & During High rains alluvial plains of Jammu

11. Dy-land Farming in J&K State:Status of Soil Degradation (Figures in parenthesis represent % of TGA of State)

12. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Cropping Pattern & Intensity in Different Zones

13. Dy-land Farming in J&K State District-wise irrigation source & coverage (Area in ‘000Ha)

14. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: District-wise irrigation source & coverage (Area in ‘000Ha)

15. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Cropping Pattern in J&K State (Kharif)

16. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Cropping Pattern in J&K State (Rabi)

17. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Production & Productivity in Rainfed/ Dryland Areas

18. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Production & Productivity in Rainfed/ Dryland Areas • Paddy is mainly grown as irrigated crop excepting in around 1,000 hectare area in up-lands of Kathua & Udhampur districts which is cultivated with the ponded water of monsoon rains. • About 96 percent of the area under Maize is grown as un-irrigated crop • Wheat is virtually grown as un-irrigated crop because of annual closure of canals during Jan. to March, the critical growth stage • Pulses are grown as un-irrigated crop only • Oilseeds are also mainly grown as un-irrigated crop • The production & Productivity of the crops is low

19. Dy-land Farming in J&K State :Ground Water Availability

20. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: J&K Groundwater Status

22. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Overall scenario of Dryland Areas • Only 4 % of TGA is cultivated; • 150 thousand hectares of land is cultivable waste; • Only about 42 % of Net Sown Area is Irrigated; • Steep sloped lands not feasible for conventional irrigation methods; • Un-irrigated lands subject to high level of Water erosion, and wind erosion; • Soil Fertility Status in general is low to medium.

23. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Management Efforts Made by the State Tapping of Water Resources: • Bore wells being established • Construction of Water Harvesting Tanks/ Storage Tanks • Diesel/Electric Pump Sets being provided to farmers on 50% of the cost Increasing water Use Efficiency: • State Govt. has decided to contribute 40% share to the Subsidy on Micro-irrigation under NMMI Promoting Farm Mechanizaion: Farm Machinery being provided on subsidy for timely farm operations, facilitation in soil moisture conservation & plant protection

24. Dy-land Farming in J&K State: Management Efforts Made by the State Identification of stress tolerant Crops/ Vars.: • Arrangements of seeds for drought tolerant crops like Bajra, Pulses, Sesame made; • Quality seed production of fodder (Oats), oilseeds & pulses taken up at farmers’ field under Seed Village Scheme; • Rajmash Project taken up under RKVY Increasing & Retaining Bio-mass: • Promotion of Organic farming through Adoption & Certification taken up : MoU with 5 Service Providers signed ; • Vermi-compost units being established on large scale ;

25. Indigenous Cropping PatternAdopted in Different Zones

26. Useful crop varieties & Practices Adopted by Farmers (Grasses & legumes adapted to different Land forms& Habitats for Pastures Development)

27. Dry-land Farming in J&K State: Policy & Institutional Reforms Required • Statutory powers to State land Use Boards for promoting land use as per capability; • Preventing conversion of Agri-lands for non-agricultural purposes. • Single Watershed Management Authority for development of Rainfed areas of the states; • Complete Integration of Activities that promote soil and water conservation in rainfed areas • Mission Mode for implementation of Dryland Development Programmes/ Projects.

28. Dry-land Farming in J&K State: Research & Extension Needs • Plant breeders and natural resource management scientists must integrate their work to develop cropping systems which can respond to climatic conditions; • Availability of Disease & Pest Resistant/ Stress Tolerant Varieties of Kharif Pulses need to be augmented; • Thrust on establishment of Farm Schools in collaborative Mode among Proficient Farmers, Development Departments & KVKs; • Farmer-Scientist Interactions need to be Institutionalized with greater frequency;

29. Dry-land Farming in J&K State: Research-Development Needs • Support required to take up Mega Project for Reclamation of the 150 thousand hectares cultivable waste land in the State; • Adequate assistance for tapping & use of surface & ground water resources & complementation with micro irrigation systems (Sprinkle/ Drip System) for sustainable crop growth; • More Efficient Farm Machinery adapted to hilly drylands required;

30. Thanks