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| Now crying over NFSA, previous Govt caused food crisis in JK | | |
Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 24: At the time when the voices over the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) are getting louder with NC targeting the present regime with all its ability, figures coming to fore reveal how this party vandalized the cultivable lands, making people dependent for every morsel.
The non- serious approach of the previous government over preserving the cultivable land in Jammu and Kashmir is leading to the serious crises at present with lands shrinking everyday at a dreadful speed.
Reports informed that in north Kashmir's Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara are losing 150 to 200 acres annually at an average to colonies, shopping complexes, roads and other government constructions.
The data collected by State's Statistics and evaluation department substantiates the baffling trend in its reports released annually.
For instance, the total available area in year 2000-2001 under "permanent pastures and grazing fields" in Kupwara was 7107 hectares, which as per the department's revised 2012-13 report shows it reduced to just 1949 hectares.
Land available for cultivation of rice in the year 1996-97 was 17337 hectares in Kupwara. As per its 2012-13 report the same area has reduced to 15639 hectares.
The report shows the land available for cultivation of vegetables in the year 1996-97 was 5713 hectares which was reduced to just 499 hectares in 2012-13. To keep right signals in public the departments have updated the same figures in all the above three cases in its annual survey report.
The available land for the cultivation of fodder in the year 1996-97 was 768 hectares the recent report shows that the same continues to be reduced to zero since the year 2011-12.
With the occupation and conversion of permanent pastures and grazing fields there has been a visible decline also in the number of livestock. Ironically the authorities have updated the same old figures in its recent 2013-2014 report.
Number of cattle which in 1997 as per the report was 247900, in year 2011-12 the department shows it reduced to 199704. Similarly the number of buffalo in the year 1997 was 5627, in the year 2011-12 it shows it reduced to 2046.
The survey shows decreasing trend in the poultry like thrust area. The number of poultry birds in the year 2003 used to be 620000, the Agriculture Department in its 2011-12 shows the number decreased to 458282.
The economic survey shows a visible decline in the number of sheep. In the year 1997 the number of sheep was 291000 and the same has now got reduced to 194188.
According to experts, the usage of agricultural, horticultural or forest land for residential or commercial purposes has brought the picturesque Kashmir on the brink of food disaster. As per the available information, there is a growing deficit in food grain production in relation of population growth here.
An estimation made by the Directorate of Agriculture Jammu, food grain requirement for the State works out to 25 lakh MT per annum as against the tentative production of about 20.65 lakh MT during 2013-14. Therefore the State faces a deficiency of 4.35 lakh MT of food grains which is provided by the CAPD through the rationing system and open market.
The situation is of grave concern. If it was not controlled immediately may lead serious threat to food security. |
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