Agricultural Diversity of Kashmir Valley

Abstract: Kashmir valley is located between the Pir-Panjal and the Karakoram Range in the India. The valley is encircled by mountain ranges characterized by snow covered high mountain peaks. Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty throughout the world named as "paradise on earth." One of the main factors backing to this fame of Kashmir is its rich biodiversity corresponding with a wide variety of habitats. Agricultural growth is essential for any region to alleviate rural poverty, ensure food security and create job opportunities for people living in rural and urban areas. Traditionally, agriculture has been practicable and sustainable industry in the Kashmir. By tradition it has been the predominant sector in the Kashmir valley which supports around above 70 per cent of its population directly or indirectly is associated with agriculture and allied activities. The important features like topography, physiographic feature, diversity of habitat especially Karewas and elevation are the key elements which creates the difference between hill and plain areas. Hilly areas as generally offer a vast scope for the growers and cultivation of mixed crops like, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, Saffron, maize, vegetables. The most important and dominant feature of hill farming is the small holding, sloping marginal lands. This region has its own specific geo-climatic condition, which determine the cropping pattern and its productivity allied activities like horticulture, dairy development, fisheries, livestock and sericulture also play significant role in the agriculture sector.


Introduction
Agriculture is the most important industry of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Even though, others who are engaged in other sectors also depend on agriculture for raw material (Majeed et al., 2021). The state is occupied mostly by mountainous part in which about only 30% of the reporting area is under cultivation (Romshoo et al., 2020). The hilly and mountain areas differ from plains in topography, elevation and physiographic diversity of habitats for flora and fauna. The hilly areas are generally grown with grass, herbs, shrubs, maize, pulses and wheat to some extent (Jee 2020). Agricultural crops like rice, wheat, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables are grown in plains of valley. Agricultural growth is important for any region to alleviate rural poverty, ensure food security and create job opportunities for people living in rural and urban areas (Dev et. al., 2010). Kashmir valley is a NW-SE oriented elongated trough located in northwest. Kashmir valley witnessed drastic land use and land cover changes mainly as a result of increase in population size, economic growth, changes in agriculture practices, and execution of different development projects particularly during last three decades (Alam et al., 2020). Agriculture has been predominant sector in this region, providing support to majority of the population. Agricultural growth is essential for any region to alleviate rural poverty, ensure food security and create job opportunities for people living in rural and urban areas Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy as about 70% of the population directly or indirectly is associated with agriculture and allied activities (Ahmad and Farooq 2010). The state Jammu and Kashmir is fundamentally divided into two divisions namely as Jammu division and Kashmir division and each division having their own and distinct geographical outlook for their respective agro climatic zones which in turn determine their cropping pattern and productivity of crops . Jammu and Kashmir is well known for its Paddy crop followed by maize, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables fodder and wheat whereas in Jammu region the most grown and eatable crop is wheat which is followed by maize, paddy, pulses, oilseeds, pseudocereals etc (Sheikh and Singh 2013).
Jammu and Kashmir has also got the monopoly in terms of Saffron crop (famous all over the world due to its quality) which has been produced in district Pulwama which is 15 km distant from Srinagar (Husaini 2014).
The cropping pattern of a region reveals the proportion of area of land under different crops at a point of time, the rotation of crops and the area under double cropping (Ganaie et al., 2019). The cropping pattern changes in space and time. In fact, no cropping pattern can be good and ideal for all times to come. Cropping system is based on the climatic, soil and the water availability has to be evolved for realizing the potential production levels through efficient use of available resources. (Batool et. al.,2019) The main aim of the cropping pattern system is to provide enough food for the family, fodder for the cattle and generate sufficient cash income for demotic and cultivation expenses (Kaloo et.al., 2015) The aim of the present study is to document the Agricultural crops that are gowning in the valley for food, fodder and other purposes.

Study area
Kashmir Himalaya is youngest mountain range owning a dramatic landscape with snow, glaciers gushing drainage basin extending between the Pirpanjal and the Zanskar range. The region falls within the biogeographic province in the northwestern Himalayas, lies between 33° 20′ to 34° 54′ N and 73° 55′ to 75° 35′ E,

Materials and Methods
During the year 2016-2017, field surveys were carried out in different areas ( Fig.1

Conclusion
To sustain continuous growth in productivity in agriculture, profitability and sustainability is must. There is a need to create general awareness techniques to enhance production, productivity and quality of food grains. This study helps to understand the various characteristics of agricultural crops growing in Kashmir valley. The significant crops important crops are Rice, maize, wheat, barley, pulses etc. Different agricultural crops with their life span, part/parts used are assessed in present study. Kashmir region has also got the monopoly in terms of Saffron crop (famous all over the world due to its quality) which has been produced in the Pampore (Pulwama) and Budgam district. Although the cropping activity goes on throughout the year in some districts but there are two distinct seasons. Kharif season related to rainfall, if it is plentitude the crop response and yield will be good, on the other hand if the rainfall is unfavorable the crop response will be poor. However, the rabi season is marked with the onset of winter.