SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s cultivable land increased marginally to 10.97 lakh hectares in 2024-25, up from 10.74 lakh hectares in 2020-21, according to data tabled by the Union Agriculture Ministry in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The figures show that cultivable land in JK rose from 1,074 thousand hectares in 2020-21 to 1,075 thousand hectares in 2021-22, 1,094 thousand hectares in 2022-23, 1,095 thousand hectares in 2023-24 and 1,097 thousand hectares in 2024-25. The 2024-25 figure is provisional.
The Ministry said cultivable or agricultural land comprises the net area sown, current fallows, fallow lands other than current fallows, culturable waste land and land under miscellaneous tree crops.
The data was provided in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3871 on cultivable land.
The Ministry also disclosed that the average monthly income of an agricultural household in JK was Rs 18,918 during the agricultural year July 2018-June 2019, substantially above the all-India average of Rs 10,218.
JK’s figure was among the higher state/UT-level averages reported in the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by the National Statistical Office through the 77th round of the National Sample Survey.
However, the Ministry clarified that updated state-wise estimates of agricultural household income for the last three years are not available, as the latest Situation Assessment Survey was conducted in 2019.
At the national level, the survey estimated 9.30 crore agricultural households out of 17.24 crore rural households, meaning agricultural households constituted about 54 per cent of rural households.
The Centre said it is supporting States and Union Territories through policy measures, budgetary support and a range of schemes aimed at increasing farm productivity, reducing cultivation costs, promoting crop diversification, improving returns and supporting farmers’ incomes.
Among the major programmes listed by the Ministry are PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Per Drop More Crop, National Mission on Natural Farming, Farmer Producer Organisations, Digital Agriculture Mission and Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
The Ministry also stated that agriculture is a State subject and that the Centre supports States, including Bihar’s West Champaran district, through various schemes and programmes rather than announcing a separate special scheme for the district.
