This study examines the transformation of the agrarian landscape in Kashmir with a particular focus on the declining trend of paddy cultivation and the simultaneous rise of high-density apple variety culture. Historically, paddy cultivation formed the backbone of the region’s economy, ensuring food security, sustaining rural livelihoods, and preserving ecological balance. However, in recent years, rapid land-use changes driven by urbanization, commercialization, and policy orientation have led to the large-scale conversion of paddy fields into horticultural orchards and built-up areas. The research highlights how this transition has contributed to increasing socio-economic dependency among rural populations. The decline of paddy fields has not only reduced local food production but has also disrupted traditional agro-pastoral systems, leading to a sharp decrease in livestock rearing and associated livelihoods. Based on field observations and a sample survey of households, the study reveals a significant reduction in cattle ownership and dairy availability, indicating growing nutritional and economic insecurity at the local level. Furthermore, the study critically analyzes the adoption of imported high-yielding apple varieties, arguing that while they offer short-term economic gains, they have introduced new forms of dependency on external inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and market networks. This shift has resulted in environmental degradation, including soil fertility loss, reduced biodiversity, and disruption of traditional water systems. The replacement of indigenous crop varieties with monoculture orchards has also increased vulnerability to climate change and market fluctuations. From a political economy perspective, the research situates these developments within a broader framework of structural dependency and market integration. It argues that the declining emphasis on food crop cultivation and the absence of strong policy interventions to protect agricultural land have contributed to a gradual erosion of self-sufficiency in the region. This transformation reflects a shift from a subsistence-based economy to a market-driven system, with long-term implications for food security, rural livelihoods, and socio-cultural stability. The study concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a balanced and sustainable agricultural policy that protects paddy lands, promotes indigenous practices, and reduces excessive dependence on external inputs and markets. It calls for integrated strategies that align economic development with ecological sustainability and local self-reliance, ensuring the preservation of Kashmir’s agrarian heritage for future generations.
Muntazir Amin Mir (Fri,) studied this question.