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Jammu & Kashmir is predominantly an agrarian economy with majority of its population engaged in agriculture and allied sectors. The agro-climatic diversity of UT of J&K varying from sub-tropical in Jammu to temperate in Kashmir, makes it ideal for varied cultivation. Rice, the staple crop, is planted in May and harvested in late September. Corn, millet, pulses (legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils), cotton, and tobacco are with rice the main summer crops, while wheat and barley are the chief spring crops. Many temperate fruits and vegetables are grown in areas adjacent to urban markets or in well-watered areas with rich organic soils. Sericulture (silk cultivation) is also prevalent. Large orchards in the vale of Kashmir produce apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, almonds, and cherries, which are among the major exports of UT of J&K. In addition, the vale is the sole producer of saffron in the Indian subcontinent.
Jammu and Kashmir's economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture and allied activities. The Kashmir valley is also known for its sericulture and cold-water fisheries. Wood from Kashmir is used to make high-quality cricket bats, popularly known as Kashmir Willow. Kashmiri saffron is also very famous and brings handsome amount of foreign exchange. Agricultural exports from Jammu and Kashmir include apples, barley, cherries, corn, millet, oranges, rice, peaches, pears, saffron, sorghum, vegetables, and wheat, while manufactured exports include handicrafts, rugs, and shawls.
Horticulture plays a vital role in the economic development of the j&K. This sector is the next biggest source of income in the UT’s economy. The region of Kashmir is known for its horticulture industry. Horticultural produce from J&K includes apples, apricots, cherries, pears, plums, almonds and walnuts.
Over the years, agriculturists and farmers have adopted several area- specific and time specific cultivation practices to meet the requirement of their staple food crops. Rice, maize, wheat, pulses, fodder, oilseeds, potato and barley are the main crops. There is currently a shift towards cultivating low- volume high-value cash crops, such as, flowers, vegetables, quality seeds, aromatic & medicinal plants, mushrooms etc. round the year. Honey, Beekeeping, fodder intensification, production of quality saffron, ‘Basmati’ rice, ‘Rajmash’, offseason vegetables, potatoes etc. are also being cultivated in specific areas, belts and clusters depending upon the agro-climatic suitability.
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