Srinagar, Jan 13 (KNO): The vast stretches of Kashmir’s fertile paddy land, once the backbone of the Valley’s food system, are steadily giving way to high-density apple orchards, residential colonies and commercial structures.
While the shift has brought higher short-term incomes for some growers, experts warn it is pushing Kashmir towards dangerous dependence on other states for its most basic staple: rice.
Across several villages in Pulwama district—Achan, Armula, Nowpora, Lassipora, Litter, Niloora and Allaie Pora—locals estimate that more than 50 per cent of cultivable land has already been diverted away from paddy cultivation in the last few years.
Similar patterns are being reported from Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Budgam and parts of Central Kashmir, indicating that the trend is not localised but Valley-wide.
High-density apple plantations, promoted as a modern and lucrative alternative to traditional farming, have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Many farmers say the move was driven by shrinking profits from paddy cultivation, rising labour costs and limited government support.
However, agricultural experts caution that the continuous conversion of food-producing land is eroding Kashmir’s food sovereignty.
"On one hand, we are aggressively promoting high-density horticulture; on the other, we are surrendering control over our food security,” a senior agriculture expert told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “Apples may bring income, but rice ensures survival. Once paddy land is lost, it is almost impossible to recover.”
Official figures underline the seriousness of the crisis.
Between 1996 and 2023, Kashmir lost nearly 34,000 hectares of agricultural land, largely due to urbanisation, orchard expansion and infrastructure projects. This decline has sharply reduced food grain production at a time when population growth and consumption needs are rising.
Currently, the region produces around 0.45 million tonnes of food grains against an annual requirement of 1.34 million tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 0.89 million tonnes. Officials warn that if present trends continue, the deficit could reach 36 per cent by this year and may exceed 50 per cent by 2030.
The gap is being filled by rice supplies from Punjab, Haryana and other grain-producing states—making Kashmir vulnerable to price volatility, transport disruptions and highway blockades.
"We once grew enough rice for our families and stored grain for the next season,” said Abdul Rashid, a farmer from Pulwama. “Today, orchards and housing colonies stand where our fields used to be. Young people find it easier to sell land than to farm it.”
A farmer from north Kashmir said, "Agriculture was our backbone. If this continues, future generations will have no land left to cultivate. Apples cannot replace rice on our plates.”
Experts also point to recent policy changes as an accelerant. In 2022, the government eased restrictions on converting agricultural land for non-farm use. The earlier cap of 400 square metres was removed, allowing larger tracts to be converted with district-level approval.
Under the revised rules, applications are examined by a committee headed by the District Collector, with decisions to be taken within 30 days. Landowners must pay five per cent of the land’s market value as a conversion fee, and permissions lapse if the land is not used for the approved purpose within two years.
While officials argue the policy facilitates development, critics say weak enforcement and population pressure have turned fertile farmland into concrete and orchards at an unsustainable pace.
"The intention may be development, but the outcome is farmland loss,” said an agricultural economist. “Without strict safeguards, we are sacrificing long-term food security for short-term gains.”
Officials in the Agriculture Department admit the problem is serious and say measures are being taken to slow the decline.
“We are promoting awareness, high-yielding crop varieties and better incentives for farmers. But this challenge requires coordinated action across departments," an official said.
According to residents, Kashmir’s growing dependence on external supplies has already made the food system fragile.
"Markets may look well-stocked, but almost everything comes from outside,” said a Pulwama resident. “If highways are closed for even a few days, prices jump immediately. That shows how dependent we’ve become.”
"High-density apples can boost income,” said a retired Director-level officer of the agriculture department, “But food grains provide stability. Without safeguarding agricultural land, Kashmir risks trading short-term prosperity for long-term insecurity.”
He said the rapid conversion of farmland and the widening food deficit highlight an urgent need for balance that supports horticulture growth while preserving Kashmir’s shrinking agricultural base and ensuring food security for generations to come—(KNO)