Agricultural Sustainability and Interdependence of Production Systems in Jammu and Kashmir

Objectives: The study was conducted in four agro-ecosystems of the Kashmir Valley. The main objective of the study was to analyse the interdependence of the different agro-ecosystems of the valley.

Methods/Statistical Analysis: The ecosystem comprises of biotic and a biotic components. The study analyses many components of the four agro-ecological zones of the valley like human beings, pests, rodents etc. to quantify interdependence among the various components of agro-ecosystems, the static input-output model was used.

Findings/Results: All the components were highly interdependent and interlinked with each other. The four agro-ecosystems viz. field crop based agro-ecosystem were found to be totally interlinked with fruit crop based agro-ecosystem and livestock based ecosystem and intern the cash crop base agro-ecosystem was found interlinked with other three agro-ecosystems in the sampled area. Similarly, the cash crop and fruit crop agro-ecosystems were found more remunerative than other two agro-ecosystems, meaning there by that the value of these goods and services is very high and can provide livelihood to a huge chunk of people in almost all the four agro-ecosystems.

Application/Improvements: The study having great applicability for the betterment of poor farmers. This study can be an eye opener for the policy makers and planners, so that necessary step shall be taken to improve the living standard of the poor farmers.