Present status, potential and future needs for mechanization of agricultural operations in Jammu and Kashmir state of India

Abstract

A study indicates that there is increase in area, production and productivity of major food crops in Jammu & Kashmir State of India over the years but the rate of increase has been slow.  Jammu region of the State has maximum cropping intensity (176.8%) followed by Kashmir (123%) and Ladakh (106%).  The average land holding in the State is very low  (0.66 ha) in comparison to National Average (1.68 ha).  The unit farm power availability on gross cropped area basis is   0.78 kW contributed 51.2% by animated (human and animal power) sources and 48.8% from rest of the sources.  The present agricultural production is insufficient to mitigate the requirement of growing population due to the limited scope of increase in cultivable area and low level of mechanization.  The bottleneck in mechanization are due to non availability of improved equipment, small and scattered land holding, low investing capacity of the farmers and lack of awareness among farmers.  Despite these, there is a great need and effort to increase the productivity and reduce the drudgery through mechanization inputs.

Keywords: Mechanization status, mechanization potential agricultural operations, farm power