Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Jammu & Kashmir

Agriculture is the main occupation for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. About 65 per cent of the people are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. Agriculture and its allied activities are the predominant sectors of the economy of Jammu & Kashmir. The cropping land use in the state also underwent drastic changes which led to a decrease in area under food crops and an increase in area under cash crops/plantation agriculture. The study of this shifting land use was necessary for the sustainable agriculture of the state. Knowledge of cropping land use helps in maximization of productivity and conservation of land. The study tried to assess the cropping pattern of land use and land change dynamics, the land use and land cover change among different land-use classes and to study the extent of productive and unproductive landuse patterns In Jammu & Kashmir. The study has revealed a major shift of land from the desirable to undesirable land-use classes. The area under the three major food crops (Paddy, Maize, and wheat) grown in the state has decreased at the state level though with regional variations, it has increased in some districts as well. But the area under paddy recorded a decline in all the districts and the area under orchards have registered highly positive growth in all the districts of Jammu & Kashmir