Only 42% of J&K’s net sown area under irrigation in 2023-24

SRINAGAR — Only around 42 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir’s net sown area was under irrigation during 2023-24, leaving nearly 58 per cent without assured irrigation coverage and dependent largely on rainfall and other seasonal sources of water.

Government data cited in a recent assessment put the net irrigated area at around 3.10 lakh hectares during the year, highlighting the continuing gap in irrigation coverage across the Union Territory.

The data also points to significant regional variation in irrigation coverage, with some districts having comparatively higher levels while large parts of the hilly Jammu region continue to depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture.

The government has been expanding irrigation infrastructure through various schemes aimed at improving water availability for agriculture.

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Under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, official data show that additional areas have been brought under irrigation during successive financial years.

Despite these efforts, the irrigation gap remains significant for the agricultural sector.

Dependence on rainfall and seasonal water availability can increase the vulnerability of farming to variations in precipitation and water supply, with potential implications for crop production and farm incomes.