Dr. Ishrat F Bhat

This study comprehensively investigated the livelihood security scenario of fisher households employing the CARE framework with little modifications, in Kashmir, India. Primary data for this study was collected from selected fisher households, and a regression function was fitted to quantify the determinants of livelihood security. The findings revealed that fishing has been their dominant livelihood option. The landholding owned by the households was meagre enough to carry out farming or domesticate animals on commercial lines. Poor capital endowments place them at less livelihood security level; however, the respondents with diversified income have a relatively higher index value for livelihood. The regression estimates indicated that barring social and natural capital, all forms of capital have a significant role to play in securing their livelihood. Poor livelihood security, coupled with less income flow, has made their survival vulnerable to various distresses and health disord...

To arrive at good land governance imperatives, we study land degradation in Jammu & Kashmir. The panel regression estimates indicate that rural literacy and direct institutional credit to farmers reduce land degradation in the state and rural population density and urban population growth increase it. Public investment in agricultural production is critical for land development, irrigation, and forestry, but it has declined recently in absolute and proportionate terms, and poor execution of acts and reforms have brought about deficits in land governance. The study suggests options for making the state’s land governance policy efficient and developing its resources.

Considering the importance of maize cultivation in the agricultural economy of the state, an attempt was made to analyze the impact of improved maize varieties on farm household income and livelihood security of maize growers in Kashmir Valley. The results revealed that although the adoption of improved varieties increase cost of maize cultivation but these varieties improved yield levels that resulted in the significant decline in its cost of production. It was observed that the adopter farms have relatively better endowments of physical, economic, social, human and natural capital and their livelihood was more secure compared to non-adopters. The regression estimates ascertained significant role of different capital endowments and technology adoption in livelihood security of maize growers. A number of policy options emerge out of the findings of this study.

An attempt was made in this study to analyze the trends in maize production in the state employing chronological data from 1980-81 to 2015-16, collected from various issues of Digest of Statistics, GoJK. The results of this study revealed a discouraging scenario of maize in the state. The area under this crop has been increasing steadily till 2000-01 but in recent years its area has declining; consistent with which the production of maize has also shown a decline. The decline in area coupled with stagnant productivity of the crop in the state is really a cause of concern and need to be addressed on priority. The productivity level at the state level appears unsatisfactory though it is relatively better for Kashmir valley. The decomposition analysis have shown that while area effect has a positive contribution in increase in maize production, the productivity and interaction of area and productivity effects have negatively contributed to production differential of maize between 1980-...

This present study attempts to examine apple production system of the Kashmir valley of J&K state. High growth and low instability in apple production is an ideal condition for achieving sustainable agricultural performance in the state. There is a growing concern that with technological change in production, variability has increased. Since the magnitude of growth and instability in production has serious implications for policy makers, the period-wise growth and level of instability in area, production and yield of apple in the Baramulla district of Kashmir region were estimated by using time series data from 2001–02 to 2014–15. The relative peace in the state has made it possible for farmers to focus on improving their livelihoods. The apple sector has the potential to influence several households and improve their economic prospects. New market players have to be invited in, resources found for investments, change in policy and support systems from the government and building ca...

Enhancement of agricultural productivity and livestock in particular is an effective way of empowering tribal masses and securing their livelihood. An attempt was made in this study to analyze the impact of adoption of cross bred livestock technology on various facets of tribal livelihood. The results revealed that domestication of livestock accounts for large share of family income in tribal areas. It was observed that cross bred livestock are more productive and have improved the income level of tribal households significantly. Additionally, the livelihood indicators were very prominent at livestock farms of adopters and even the capital stock generated at their farms were more compared to non-adopters. The regression estimates confirm that adoption of livestock technology significantly contribute to more farm income. Moreover, there is an apprehension that poor livestock keepers may not benefit much from demand driven growth because of small scale production, illiteracy, meagre holding size, lack of access to credit, poor access to location specific technology, and markets for their produce and their inability to comply with food safety standards are becoming stringent across different tribal regions of Kashmir valley. Findings of the study emphasized upon R&D efforts for evolution of location specific breeds and standardization of package of practices for livestock domestication for tribal areas. Also, there is an urgent need to aware the tribal people about the advantages of adoption of livestock technology and the essential role of extension agencies would have crucial role in the direction.

Tribal people are most vulnerable sections of the society and they rely on subsistence agricultural practices for their living. The agricultural practices are practiced under rain-fed conditions over terraces drawn out on undulated topography. This background motivated us to analyze the maize cultivation in relationship with technological gaps so as to arrive at the extension gaps and policies to bridge them. This study mainly perused the primary data obtained from sample respondents selected in tribal area of Kashmir Valley. The results revealed that tribal people were allocating major proportion of their cropped area for maize cultivation followed by cherry and legumes. It was observed that there were huge technological gaps in the use of input technologies. Moreover their intercultural operations were far from the scientific recommendations which led to lower returns and uneconomical farming practices. Further lower productivity and fairly low quality of the produce resulted in lower returns to their little surpluses. Study revealed poor role of extension agencies in these area which could be the major cause of their unscientific maize cultivation. Only few respondents were found to have seen any extension personnel around their farms and major of them even did not know about such agencies. A significant difference was observed in yield levels of respondents having received information from friends or extension worker and those having no information. The study also examined the various dimension of their contacts and information sources and could ascertain an important role of extension agencies if their farming has to be made remunerative. Based upon findings, this study emphasized upon strengthening/streamlining extension system in these areas among other policy options.