Agriculture Department, District Kargil

AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENTS

Administrative Setup

The district has been divided into two Sub-Divisions viz. Kargil and Zanskar. Kargil Sub Division has seven Agriculture Zones and Zanskar Sub Division has one zone. Each Agriculture Zone is divided into circles. Each Sub Division is headed by one Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer who is technically supported by 2 SMS and each zone is manned by one Zonal Agriculture Officer each circles manned by one Junior Agriculture Assistant. At District level the extension agency is headed by District Agriculture Officer Extension who functions under over all control of Chief Agriculture Officer. The Extension agency is involved in disseminating latest technical know how from Lab. to land and other field extension activities.

There are 12 Zonal Stores/ Sale Centres including one District Store at Baroo. One storekeeper who functions under the supervisor of Zonal Agriculture Officer mans each store. Various inputs like seed / pesticides / implements are provided to farmers through Zonal Stores under supervisor of Agriculture Assistant inputs at Sub Division level.

Agriculture Farms

The department has fourteen S.M. Farms/ Vegetable Farms. Each Farm is manned by one farm supervisor who functions under supervision of Zonal Agriculture Officer. S. Farm Khurbathang I manned by Officer Incharge Khurbathang ans Zanskar farms dare under Sub Division Agriculture Officer, Zabskar who functions under over all control of chief Agriculture Officer. At the District level input agency and farm activities are headed by District Agriculture Officer inputs who functions under the over all control of Chief Agriculture Officer. Chief Agriculture Officer is also supported by the experts i.e. Subject Matter Specialist who provide technical assistance from time to time.

Soil Testing Laboratory

The Soil Testing Laboratory is also functioning in the District where soil samples are analyzed for NPK status and results are communicated to the farmers. The laboratory headed by one specialist in soils i.e. Assistant Soil Chemist who is supported by one Research Assistant and Laboratory attendants.

Details of Sub Division Zones Cirlces

Sub Division Kargil
Name of Zone	Name of Circle
1. Kargil - A	Kargil, Poyen
2. Kargil - B	Batalik, Tumail, Yourbaltak
3. Drass	Hardas, Thasgam, Muradbagh, Holiyal
4. Sankoo	Trespone, Tambis, Saliskote, Lankerchey, Sankoo, Nagmakusar, Khandi, Barsoo, Sangrah, Thasgam, Batambis
5. Taisuru	Tangole, Taisuru
6. Chiktan	Budhkharboo, Chiktan, Shakar
7. Shargole	Shargole, Mulbeck, Lotsum, Pashkum
Sub Division Zanskar
Name of Zone	Name of Circle
8. Padum	Padum, Zangla, Lungnak, Phey

Zonal Stores / Sale Centres of Kargil District

S.No.	Name of Zone	Name of Seed Centre
1.	Panikhar / Taisuru	Zonal Store Panikhar
2.	Sankoo	Zonal Store Sankoo Sale Centre Trespone
3.	Kargil - A	Zonal Store Baroo, Kargil District Store Baroo District Store Trespone
4.	Kargil - B	Sale Centre Akchamal Sale Centre Yourbaltak Sale Centre Batalik
5.	Drass	Zonal Store Drass Sale Centre Kharboo
6.	Shargole	Sale Centre Bodhkharboo Zonal Store Shergole
7.	Chiktan	Zonal Store Chiktan
8.	Zanskar	Sub Divisonal / Zonal Store Zanskar

Details of S.M. Farms/Vegetable Farmers

S.No.	Name of Farms	Total Area (in Kanal)	Net Area Cultivable (in Kanal)	Crops	Remarks
1.	S.M. Farm Khurbathang	380	300	Alfa-alfa seed
2.	Mirkhanthang Drass	32	20	Fodder alfa-alfa	No irrigation facilites
3	Potato Farm Drass	18	12	Potato
4	Zeera/ Potato Farm Drass	4.5	4	Potato
5	Vegetable Farm Sankoo	4	2.5	Vegetable
6	Vegetable Farm Pashkum	4	3	Vegetable
7	Vegetable Farm Chiktan	4	3	Vegetable
8	Vegetable Farm Mulbeck	4	4	Vegetable
9	Vegetable Farm Saliskote	7.15	7	Vegetable
10	S.M. Farm Khumbathang	242	104	Fodder	Non availability of irrigation (non functional)
11	Vegetable Farm Panikhar	4.8	4	Vegetable
12	Rebted Vegetable Farm Paskum	4	4	Vegetable
13	S.M. Farm Stara Zanskar	26	24	Grim / Wheat
14	S.M. Haftal Zanskar	120 Hect.	-		Non availability of irrigation
15	Green House Khurbathang	4 Nos.	-	Cucurbits	Off season veg.
16	Green House Pashkum	2 Nos.	-

Aims and Objectives

The main objective of the department of agriculture is to increase both productivity and production of various crops grown in the District. To accomplish this task it is imperative to transfer the latest technology from Lab to farmers field for adoption at their level. Land being a limiting factor in Kargil District the department has to lay thrust on intensive cultivation which is to be carried by popularizing cultivation of improved high yielding variety seeds both open pollinated and hybrids/use of balanced doze of fertilizers. Better pest management, use of improved Agriculture Machinery/ tools and implements and other improved Agriculture practices.

The various developmental activities under taken in the District are as under:

Area Coverage:

The major crops grown in the district are barley / grim, fodder, wheat, pulses. Efforts are being to cover entire area under high yielding varieties of different crops. For this purpose HYV of different seed are provided to farmers on subsidized costs. HYV seeds are provided to farmers both for expansion and replacements of genetically deteriorated seeds. About 10-15 % of area is covered every year for replacement and rest of the area is covered under natural spread.

Vegetable Development Programme

The District has acute shortage of vegetables both in summer as well as in winter. Consumption of vegetables (especially green vegetables) by local population is very low which results in malnutrition and poor health. Against a requirement of 66000 qtls. of vegetables, the estimated production is 25000 qtls. to bridge this gap the department is laying stress on cultivation of high yielding varieties / hybrid vegetables. For this purpose the department is providing seeds on subsidized cost for the last few years different hybrid vegetables are being successfully grown in the district which has vegetable production in the district. During current year vegetables grown at Kargil were available in the market in abundance and the local vegetables, were available in the market even in the month of December.

The department also provides vegetable seedlings to farmers on subsidized cost. Since the population of the district is scattered and the terrain of district is difficult as such to cater to the needs of farmers of flung areas 67 units of vegetables, nurseries were laid one each in every Panchayat.

Strengthening of Irrigation Facilities

To make optimum use of available water and to bring more areas under irrigation water lifting devices i.e. pumps are provided to farmers on subsidized cost.

Introduction of Farm Power Machinery

To reduce pressure on farm labour which is carried mostly by women at Kargil various farm power machinery like threshers with engines are provided to farmers on 50% subsidy. Besides improved Agriculture tools and implements are arranged from Agriculture workshop Jammu and provided to farmers on 50% subsidized cost.

Scientific Demonstration

To reduce and to demonstrate about the latest technical know how demonstrations are laid on the farmers fields for which various inputs are provided to farmers on 75% subsidy. Besides to popularize cultivation of HYV seeds and hybrid vegetables farmers are provided with minikits in the farm of seeds.

Training Programme

To educate farmers about latest technology farmers training camps are held every year where departmental experts and scientists from SKUAST impart training to farmers.

Plant Protection

To keep insect population and incidence of disease under control both prophylactic and curative plant protection measures are taken. For this purpose various pesticides/ fungicides/ PP machinery are provided to farmers on subsidized cost. However in discriminate use of pesticides is avoided and plant protection measures are taken to keep damage of crops below economic injury level.

Soil Testing

In order to use balanced doze of chemical fertilizers and to make optimum use of fertilizers it is essential to ascertain the status of soil in respect of different nutriments. For this purpose a soil testing laboratory is functioning in the district where soil samples are analyzed for status of NPK and results are communicated to farmers for specific use of chemical fertilizers.

Establishment of Agriculture Workshop

More production and productivity also demand right type of tools and implements suitable under specific conditions. In order to manufacture various tools and implements Agriculture workshop is being established at Khurbathang Kargil. For this purpose the machinery and equipment required is being procured from Agro Industries developmental cooperation and efforts are being made to establish the workshop as early as possible.

Green Houses

the department has six numbers of Solar Glass Green Houses where vegetables are grown under controlled conditions which cannot otherwise be grown in open fields. The vegetables grown are cucumbers, brinjal, chilies, bottle gourd, beside off season vegetables viz. Mangole, Khanyari Haag, Radish, Turnip, Methi, Spinach and other leafy vegetables are grown as demonstration to farmers during the winter months.

Tea Cultivation

Tea seed procured from LEHO Leh was introduced in the district during 2001. the tea has been grown in the district successfully for the last two years. The tea seedlings were raised departmentally and provided to farmers. The sample has been sent to R.R.L Jammu for analysis and its report is awaited.

Area and its Utilization

The land utilization is depicted as under:

1.	Total geographical area	14036 Sq. Kms
2.	Total cultivable area	19437 Hect.
3.	Total irrigated area	10600 Hect.
4.	Net area sown	10666 Hect.

Area under Different crops

Main Crop
1.	Barley (Grim)	4550 Hect.
2.	Wheat	2210 Hect.
3.	Fodder	2810 Hect.
4.	Pulses	870 Hect.
5.	Vegetables	216 Hect.
6.	Others	10 Hect.
	Total	10666 Hect.
Area under Double cropping
1.	Buck Wheat	710 Hect.
2.	Fodder
a)	Oats	125 Hect.
b)	Maize	50 Hect.
c)	Local, Lthyrus (Garaz)	560 Hect.
3.	Lesser Millets (Kangni / Cheena)	1080 Hect.
4.	Vegetables	20 Hect.
5.	Others	20 Hect.

Area brought under HYV out of total

Cultivated areatill date			Varietal replacement prog.
1.	Barley	610 Hect.	9.1 Hect.
2.	Wheat	1030 Hect.	150 Hect.
3.	Vegetable	220 Hect.	220 Hect.
4.	Fodder	1545 Hect.	150 Hect.
5.	Pulses	565 Hect.	30 Hect.
6.	Oil Seed	10 Hect.	10 Hect.
7.	Potato	120 Hect.	25 Hect.
Principal crop / Staple Food : Barley / Wheat

Major Achievements

1.	Area covered under high yielding varieties prog. till date	4100 Hect.
2.	Distribution of High Yielding Variety Seeds	855 Qtls.
3.	Distribution of improved tools and implements	3000 Nos.
4.	Farmer training camps conducted in the district	8 Nos.
5.	Distribution of thresher with engine	20 Nos.
6.	Distribution of irrigation pumps	50 Nos.
7.	Distribution of spray pumps	50 Nos.
8.	Laying out of demonstration / Minikits	13089 Nos.
9.	Distribution of vegetable / flower seedlings	430000 Nos.
10.	Raising of vegetable seedling nursery at Panchayat level including two for NAC	67 Nos.
11.	Plant protection and prophylactic measure (Area covered)	280 Hect.
12.	Analysis of Soil Samples	600 Nos.

Source : Chief Agriculture Officer, Kargil

HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT

S.No.	Item	Unit	2002-03		2003-04		2004-05
S.No.	Item	Unit	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement end. 08/2004
Development of Horticulture in Dry Land and hilly Areas
A.	Expansion of Area under compact plantation prog.
a)	Area to be covered under compact plantation	Hect.	30	30	30	30	30	Selection of beneficiaries are in progress
b)	High Density apple plantation	Hect.	5	5	5	3	5
c)	Apricot /Sporadic plantation	Hect.	30	30	15	15	100
d)	Supply of tool kits @ 50% Sub.	Nos.	2000	150	1500	100	100	70
e)	Fencing plantation areas apricot plantation
i)	High Density	Nos.	5000	5000	5000	3000	5000	Plantation will be done in Nov.-Dec.
ii)	Apricot Plantation	Nos.	7500	7500	7500	7500	7500
iii)	Apricot/Sporadic plantation	Nos.	3000	3000	1500	1500	1500
B.	Productivity Improvement Prog.
a)	Distribution of raw sulphur/KNS @ 50%	Kgs.	1300	1472	791	791	781	781
b)	Supply of new packing material	Mts.	10	400 Kgs.	-	-	1500	1500 Kgs.
c)	Supply of Osmotic Dehydration units	Nos.	100	96 units	159	159	159	159
d)	Establishment of apricot processing/drying centre	Nos.	1	-	1	funds not	-	-
e)	Citric Acid	Kg.	-	-	-	-	10	10
C.	Information and Publicity
a)	Training camps	Nos.	10	10	10	10	10	In progress
D.	Plant Protection
a)	Supply of foot spray pumps	Nos.	100	50	150	50	50	25
b)	Release of bio-agents	Million	1000	4.2	5.5	5.5	10	2 million
E.	Production of Quality Plant
a)	Production of fruit plants	Nos.	50000	37000	50000	37000	50000	28000
b)	Distribution of fruit plants	Nos.	-	16645	-	12000	-	will be made Nov. to ending March

Source: Chief Horticulture Officer, Kargil