A: Overview
The territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir lies between four degrees of latitude from 32.17 to 36.58
North. Within these 640 Kms. there is a sudden rise of altilude from 305 metres to 6910 metres above sea
level. The State of Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, lies between the hot plains of the Jammu Province and
coldest dry table-land of Ladakh. These territories are, as such, transitional in climate.
Weather conditions are different at different places. There are many causes of difference:
1.
Relief is the main factor. Lofty mountains like the Pirpanjal, the Zanskar and the Karakoram check
winds from blowing in thus moisture is stopped from entering the valleys by the lofly mountains.
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| A View Of Nanga Parbat |
2.
The Monsoon winds in summer cause rain in the Outer Plains and the Outer Hills. But these winds can
cross the Pir Panjal range only when they are very strong. In winter winds from the Mediterranean cause
snow and rain in the Valley of Kashmir. Snow falls on the mountains which enclose the valley.
3.
Forests influence winds, rainfall and temperature. The moisture laden winds cause rainfall in the
forests on the hills making the temperature to fall in summer. Thus the climate of Pahalgam, Gulmarg etc.
is comparatively milder than that of Srinagar or Sopore.
4.
Altitude is also a factor. So the climate of the valley of Kashmir is comparatively milder than that of
the Outer Plain that lie on a very low altitude. The rainfall also varies as the altitude rises.
B:
Vegetation and Soil Types
Vegetation is influenced by climate, rainfall soil and altitude. Since these factors vary as the altitude rises
from the outer plains of Jammu Province to the loftiest mountain ranges of the Inner Himalayas, it is but
natural that the vegetation should vary from the Inner Himalayas to the middle mountains and the outer
plains of Jammu region.
Forests are one of the most important resources of Jammu and Kashmir. Spread over 2,236 sq. kms. of the
demarcated area forests accounts for 20% of the total geographical area of the state on this side of the
Line of Control. More than 99% of forest area is confined to the province of Jammu & Kashmir only,
with largest area of 5848 sq. kms. in district of Doda and smallest are of 481 sq. kms. in the district of
Budgam. The valley of Kashmir has deciduous vegetation. The Chinar, Poplar, Deodar, Fir, Pine, Kail, Partal, Mulbery, Walnut and other fruit trees grow throughout the valley. Baramulla and Anantnag districts have respectively 71% and 60% of their areas under forests.
Big forests in the valley provide timber and fire-wood. Grassy meadows in the forest provide fodder for
the cattle. Medicinal herbs such as balladona, hyoseyamus, digitalis, menthol, artemisis, polygola,
podophyllum, rubus, trilliu, hops and kuth grow in these forests. Industries like paper, joinery sports
goods, furniture, wood carving, herbal drugs, silk industry, manufacture of agricultural implements and
construction of railway sleepers depend on these forests.
The thick undergrowth in the forests stores up rain water and allows it to flow slowly and that is why
rivers that have their sources in the forests do not run dry in the dry seasons and check floods during the
rainy season.
Soils
In the regions of Jammu and Kashmir the soils are loamy and there is little clay content in them. Poor in
lime but with a high content of magnesia, the soil is treated with chemical fertilisers and enriched with
green manure and legume before cultivation .There is sufficient organic matter and nitrogen content in the
alluvium of the Kashmir valley as a result of plant residue, crops stubble, natural vegetation and animal
excretion.
The valley of Kashmir has many types of soils like: Gurti (clay), Bahil (Loam), Sekil (Sandy),
Nambaal (Peats), Surzamin, Lemb, Floating garden soils and Karewa soils. No wonder, in Kashmir, soil
is virtually worshipped as a miracle of divinity as it is a source of wealth of the land.
C:
Irrigation - Importance and Types
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| A view Of Baghliar Dam |
Irrigation
Irrigation plays an important role in the agriculture of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Our State does
not receive rain throughout the year and sometimes it is quite insufficient and it is neither uniform nor
certain. In Jammu region temperature conditions favour cultivation of crops throughout the year but due
to non availability of water in the region the plant growth is limited. Rainy season provides sufficient
water from July to September. In winter also this region receives several showers of rain. The remaining
months of the year are dry.
Methods of Irrigation
The following methods of irrigation are in use in the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
(a)
Canals form the most important system of irrigation in the Outer- plains and in the broad valley of
Kashmir where the soil is soft and alluvial and canals can be easily dug. Moreover, the Jhelum and its
tributaries are all snow-fed and they never run dry. They supply water to the canals throughout the year.
About 486072 acres of land in Kashmir are irrigated by canals.
(b)
Lift Irrigation by pumping water to higher level and then carrying it to the field through canals.
(c) Wherever water is available at the depth of one or two meters, it is drawn out by lever system and then
suspplied to the fields directly. At present about 6000 such wells are working in the valley.
D: Agriculture
Agriculture is the most important industry of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Even those engaged in
other industries depend on agriculture for raw material.
About 80% people in the State are cultivators in one form or the other. The total area of the State
according to the 1992 record of India is 24.15 lakh hectares. Out of this area 138,6867 Sq. Kms. are rural
and only 305.4 Sq. Kms.are urban. This signifies that the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is rural with
6503 villages. Out of the total area of 24.15 lakh hect. agricultural statistics are available only for about
8.26 lakh hect. The rest of the area is under forests and mountains.
Other Agricultural Activities
1.
Silk. It is obtained from silk worms which feed on mulberry trees. These trees require a warm and
moist climate. Silk cocoons are,therefore, grown in abundance in the valley of Kashmir Two silk
factories, one in Jammu and the other in Srinagar, manufacture silkyarn from these cocoons.
2.
Wool. It is obtained from sheep and in the State they are mostly reared in the valley of Kashmir on the
grassy meadows. Quality sheep from Australia have been imported for sheep breeding in Kashmir.
E: Geomorphology
Geological Structure
Thc Geology of the territoties of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have been studied in some detail by R.
Lydekkar. He has divided the territory into three different structural Zones:
1. The Panjal
2. The Zanskar
3. The Tertiary Groups
These three Geological divisions form the basis of the four physical divisions of the State.
The Panjal forms the Outer plain, the Outer Hills and the Middle Mountains. The Zankar includes the
whole of the eastern region from Spiti and Lahol (32.170N. Latitude) to the lofty Karakoram mountains in
the north. The Tertiary Groups include the valley of Kashmir and other river Valleys.
The oval valley of Kashmir is longitudinal. It is about 1700 metres above sea level. There is a high wall of
mountains round the valley. These rise to a height of 5500 metres above sea level.
The only outlet of the valley is Baramulla where the Jehlum flows out through a narrow gorge.
The entire drainage of the valley of Kashmir and its surrounding areas have only this outlet. In the north, Kashmir has many volcanic rock formations. These are mostly stratified and several thousand metres thick.
F: Handicrafts, Export and Import
In Kashmir, with its severe winter when climate conditions are semi-arctic, craftsmen utilize their lesiure
as well as creative intelligence in creating artifacts of exquisite beauty.
Kashmir is known for the following handicrafts throughout the world:
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| Handicraft works in Kashmir |
Carpets is a gift of caravans coming into the valley from Central Asia. In the time of
Zain-ul-abdin Badshah, this art was greatly developed by imported skill and royal patronage. The
Europeans also took a keen interest in it.
Namdas are made of wool of inferior quality and old woollen blankets are used for making gabbas.
The art of felting wool into namdas has come from Yarkand.
Kangri making is a cottage industry concentrated in the areas on the banks of Wullar lake near
Watlab and at Tsrar and Botingo villages.
Papier Mache is a monoply of Kashmir. Pulp and paper are shaped into a variaty of decorative articles
and colorful designs are painted on them.
Pashmina shawl industry is an old industry of Kashmir. Pashmina wool used to come from Tibet via
Ladakh but since the invasion of China in 1962 and closing of the Leh Yarkand route, Pashmina shawl
and carpet industries have been affected greatly.
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