The Jammu and Kashmir government has introduced high yielding and early maturing varieties of rice and wheat to increase the foodgrain production, state Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir has said.

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology has developed shalimar wheat-I and shalimar rice-I and these varieties would also help in introducing tripple cropping to increase foodgrain production in the state, Mir said while presenting the demand of grants for agriculture and allied sectors in the Assembly yesterday.

The Minister said that more than 10,000 hectares of land has been brought under paddy-wheat crop rotation in Kashmir.

Regarding the distribution of High Yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds, the Minister said that 32,227 quintals of wheat was distributed among the farmers in Jammu division with an incentive of Rs 500 per quintal during rabi 2009-10.

Besides, 41,840 quintals of HYV seeds of different crops were distributed among farmers in the Jammu division during the year, he said.

Enumerating other measures being undertaken to increase the crop yield and make the state self-sufficient in food production, the Minister said that intensive efforts have been made to increase the productivity of crops like rice, maize and wheat besides diversification of other crops.

The State Land Use Board has been been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to lay down the policy on land use in the state, he said adding about 2.5 lakh hectares land has been converted for non-agriculture purposes in the state.

Regarding the availability and distribution of fertilisers, Mir said that the Union government has been approached to sanction buffer
stocks at various locations.

The Minister also said that for involving private partners in fertiliser trade, the unemployed youth will be issued fertiliser
licence.

He said that a cold storage have been allotted by Airports Authority of India besides setting up a cargo facility at the Srinagar airport
for perishable items.

Later, the house passed the demand of grants amounting to Rs 70,061.05 lakh for agriculture and allied departments with a voice vote.