Agriculture and Horticulture
Agriculture is the main livelihood, but only a small part of the land can be cultivated because of the mountains. Farming is terraced and depends on snow-fed streams and kuhls (channels).
Main crops by region
| Region | Main crops |
|---|---|
| Jammu plains | Wheat, rice (basmati), maize, pulses, sugarcane |
| Kashmir Valley | Rice (main food crop), maize, oilseeds (mustard), fodder, vegetables |
| Ladakh | Barley (main crop), wheat, buckwheat, peas; apricot in the valleys |
Seasons
- Kharif: rice, maize (sown April-June).
- Rabi: wheat, barley, mustard (sown in autumn).
- Ladakh has only one crop in a year because of the short summer.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the pride of J&K, on Karewa and mountain soil.
| Product | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Apple | J&K produces most of India's apples (Kashmir Valley: Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara). Sopore is the "Apple Town" of Kashmir. Varieties: Delicious, Kullu Delicious, Ambri (Kashmiri Ambri) |
| Walnut | J&K produces most of India's walnuts (Kashmir). Wood is used for carving |
| Almond | Pulwama (Pampore), Budgam, Srinagar. The Badamwari garden in Srinagar celebrates almond blossom |
| Saffron (Kesar) | Pampore, Budgam, Srinagar and Kishtwar. Grown on Karewas. Has a GI tag (Kashmir Saffron). Only J&K grows saffron in India |
| Cherry | Srinagar, Shopian (e.g. Mishri cherry) |
| Pear, apricot, plum, peach | Across the valley; apricot (Raktsey Karpo) in Ladakh |
| Basmati | R.S. Pura (Jammu) |
| Litchi, mango, citrus | Jammu hills (Kathua, Udhampur) |
| Mushroom (guchchi) and herbs | Forests |
Other primary activities
- Sheep and goat rearing produce wool and pashmina. The pashmina goat (Changra) of Changthang gives the finest wool.
- Trout fish farming in cold streams (introduced in the 1900s). Kokernag is the trout fishery hub.
- Sericulture: Kashmir silk and mulberry.
- Floriculture: Tulip Garden (Srinagar), the largest tulip garden in Asia.
- Beekeeping.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.