Srinagar, Oct 22: The Group of Concerned Citizens, J&K, (GCC) has red flagged the rampant conversion of agriculture land for non – agriculture purposes in Jammu and Kashmir and particularly in Kashmir valley. They did this yesterday at Srinagar on 21st October in their meeting with Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal. The GCC warned of drastic reduction in food
grain production in coming years within J&K and of endemic shortages of locally grown food grains in rural areas. Apart from shortages, the GCC
warned of loss of employment and income for the rural population who are presently engaged in agriculture and allied activities.The GCC called upon the UT authorities to take cognizance of rapid land conversion and place
strict restrictions on such unregulated and uncontrolled conversion.
They demanded new land use and housing policies to incentivise apartment
based housing and disincentivise construction of exclusive residential houses on agriculture lands.
The GCC warned of adverse impact on Kashmir tourism if uncontrolled construction activity is allowed to eat up precious agriculture land and leave no open spaces for agriculture and other land based activities. The GCC
delegation also raised other issues pertaining to agriculture sector with the
Director like introduction of green house cultivation during winter season,
popularisation of indoor cultivation of crops like mushroom and high value
cash crops, vertical farming, use of solar energy and rain water harvesting at house hold level, drip and sprinkler irrigation, vermiculture, organic farming, emphasis on high value cash crops and protection of saffron lands and saffron cultivation. The Director Agriculture, Kashmir appreciated the
concern of GCC about agriculture in Kashmir and assured them that he will take up the issue of conversion of agriculture land with the higher
authorities in the agriculture department. The Director also briefed the GCC about the activities and achievements of the agriculture department and
hoped that the policies and activities of the department will bear more fruit
in future for the farmers.
The GCC thanked the Director for giving them a
patient hearing. After the meeting, the GCC delegation expressed the hope that the UT administration will take immediate steps to regulate conversion
of agriculture land and stop wanton conversion of such land in the entire UT.
The GCC delegation comprised of retired IAS officers Khurshid Ahmed Ganai and Ghulam Jeelani Nahvi, retired IFS officer Ghulam Hassan Kango, retired IPS officer Abdul Rashid Khan, retired District and Sessions Judge Khaliq ul Zaman and retired Secretary, J&K Board of School Education Bashir Ahmed.
