Major Challenges of AJ&K Agriculture and Recommendations

2. MAJOR CHALLENGES TO
AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AJK
Presentation by
Abdul Hafeez
January 20, 2007

3. Sequence
 Why Agriculture in AJK?
 Major Challenges / Constraints
 Potential
 Best Management Practices (BMP)
 Recommendation for AJK

4. AJK is poorest and environmentally
most fragile region in Pakistan,
Why Agriculture in AJK?
AJK is endowed with diverse and wide-
ranging soil, climatic & socio-economic
conditions,
87% of the population live in rural
areas & gain their livelihood from farming,
Soil pH is 6.5 to 8.0 which is very good
for plant growth,

5. Why Agriculture in AJK ? contd…
AJK is declared best region for
vegetable & maize seed production,
AJK can produce off season vegetable
and fruits for plain areas of Pakistan,
Natural resources and the daring people who
could do much better if shown the way.
There is close connection between
agricultural productivity, poverty &
environmental degradation,

6. AJK agriculture is typical of mountain agriculture,
which is different than plains agriculture,
Salient Feature of AJK Agriculture contd,,
On the basis of land physiography, climate and
soil, AJK is divided into four agro ecological
zones,
Average farm holdings are small and generally
un-economical, below one hectare

7. Salient Feature of AJK Agriculture contd..
Major Crops: Maize, Wheat, rice,
Major Vegetables: Tomato, Bean, potato,
Spinach, Turnip, Karam ,
Major Fruits: Apple, Pear, Apricot, Walnut, Plum
& Cherry .

8. Crop production being rain fed, is subject to
vagaries of nature,
CONSTRAINTS IN AGRI. PROD.
Immense human and livestock population
pressure,
Agri. research cannot be initiated on
continuum and sustainable basis
Poor marketing infrastructure, 20-30% of the
fruit and vegetables are wasted from the farm
to consumer,

9. CONSTRAINTS IN AGRI. PROD. Contd..
Lack of technical know-how
Smallholders have limited financial resources
Limited market information available at
producer level
Negligible credit facilities and complicated
system of Agricultural Loaning

10. CONSTRAINTS IN AGRI. PROD. Contd..
Unavailability of farm-machinery at farmer field
Unavailability of storage facilities for fruits and
other agricultural commodities
Limited governmental support
Opportunities for promotion to professional
staff are negligible,

11. POTENTIAL
Abundant natural Water sources
Best region for vegetable and maize seed
production,
Great diversity of physical geography, climate &
land to produce quality fruit, flowers & vegetable
Best areas for walnut and cherry production

12. POTENTIAL contd..
Best cut flowers production especially glandulus,
rose tuber rose, etc.
Kashmir Vegetable and Fruit demand growing in
markets of Pakistan
Best climate for Medicinal plants & other cash crops
Suitable environment for Olive production
enviorement

13. A View of Kashmir’s Vegetable Farm

14. Best Management Practices (BMP)
- Soil management, fertilizers and manure use
Key focus areas in BMPs by advanced
countries:
BMPs are the tool for meeting today’s
agricultural goals.
- Nutrient management for maintaining and restoring
soil fertility
- Sowing/ Seeding plan and techniques

15. Best Management Practices (BMP contd..)
- Harvesting and storage
- Integrated pest management (IPM)
- Irrigation and increasing WUE
- Fertilizer management (Fert. Placement +
through irrigation,
- Value addition and Marketing
- Training and Extension
- Biological Control

16. Strengthening of research and technical services,
Recommendations
Productivity enhancement through promotion of
horticulture, non-conventional commercial crops &
cereals,
Substitution of high value crops,
Using of Sloping Agriculture Land Technologies
(SALT)

17. Recommendations (Contd…)
On farm water management + Water & Soil
Conservation & Irrigation Techniques
Farm machinery should be provided at least
union council level
Walnut and cherries cultivation should be
promoted on sub watershed basis
Micro finance programme for real former should
be started,

18. Recommendations (Contd…)
Medicinal plants + unconventional crops and
crop production
Strengthening the linkages between public &
private sector for export of high value
commodities.
Improvement of rural infrastructure
Organic farming should be encouraged to
reduce environmental degradations

19. Recommendations (Contd…)
Development of domestic markets + Improve
access to market information,
Strengthening the linkages between public &
private sector for export of high value
commodities.
Development of marketing strategies,
Appropriate government support to agriculture
sector,

20. Recommendations
AJK should be included in all national
programmes,
Chances of promotion of agriculture officers
should be equated at least with other cadres of
officers.
Recommendations contd..