Agriculture: Crops and Farm Structure
Agriculture supports nearly 70 per cent of the population directly or indirectly (Economic Survey 2025-26), although the primary sector gives only 20.45% of GSVA.
Main facts
- Food grain production: 21,181 thousand quintals in 2024-25, up 1.33% from 20,904 thousand quintals.
- Area under High Yielding Variety seeds: up 12.5% from 11.04 lakh ha to 12.42 lakh ha.
- Yellow Revolution: about 1.80 lakh ha under mustard.
- Mushroom: 37,903 quintals in 2024-25 (up 11.98%). Honey: 26,301 quintals (up 48%).
- Trend: farmers are shifting to high-value crops, organic and exotic vegetables (broccoli, asparagus) and value addition (maize to corn flakes and sweet corn).
- PMFBY (crop insurance) covers all 20 districts: in 2024-25, 2.08 lakh farmers, 80,884 ha insured, claims Rs 26.92 crore to over 94,000 farmers.
Region-wise crops
| Region | Main crops |
|---|---|
| Jammu plains and Kandi | Wheat, basmati rice (R.S. Pura), maize, pulses, oilseeds |
| Chenab valley and Pir Panjal | Maize, rajmash (Bhaderwah), rice, fodder |
| Kashmir Valley | Rice (main), maize, oilseeds (mustard), vegetables, saffron on karewas |
| Ladakh | Barley, wheat, buckwheat, peas (one crop a year) |
Farm structure
- Marginal holdings (below 1 ha): about 84%. Average holding 0.59 ha (Agriculture Census 2015-16).
- Small farms mean low mechanisation, high input cost per hectare and low savings, so the State pushes FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) and cooperatives.
- Cooperatives: over 5,000 functional; all 537 PACS are computerised (rank 1 in India). PACS now also work as Jan Aushadhi Kendras, CSCs, FPOs, grain storage hubs and fertiliser outlets.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from the J&K Economic Survey 2025-26, J&K Budget 2026-27, PRS Legislative Research, NITI Aayog and replies in Parliament and the Legislative Assembly. Figures are advance estimates or latest available and official replies sometimes differ, so check the latest Economic Survey and Budget before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.