Survival Struggles in Fields of J&K

The relentless rains and flash floods that swept across Jammu province in early September have not only devastated homes and infrastructure but have also dealt a crushing blow to the region’s agrarian economy. Fields once heavy with paddy and maize now lie buried under silt or drowned in stagnant water, orchards have been washed away, and fodder crops flattened. The statistics, stark in themselves, reveal the depth of the crisis: over 1.40 lakh hectares of agricultural land damaged, with more than 90,000 hectares suffering losses above one-third, and over six lakh farmers directly impacted. Yet behind these numbers are countless families staring at ruin, with livelihoods disrupted and food security hanging in balance.

District after district has borne the brunt of nature’s fury. Udhampur alone has lost nearly 24,000 hectares of farmland, followed by extensive damage in Jammu, Reasi, Kathua, Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban. Vast tracts of fertile land in Garkhal, Khour, Pargwal, Jourian, and Tawi Island have been smothered in thick layers of silt carried by swollen rivers, leaving little chance of immediate recovery. In the kandi belt, maize fields have been flattened by high winds and rain, depriving marginal farmers of what was often their only source of seasonal income. Even pulses and fodder, covering close to 1,000 hectares each, have not been spared, and this poses a double burden affecting not only the food plate of households but also the survival of livestock. The specter of a fodder crisis looms large, threatening to push farmers deeper into despair. For those who depend solely on agriculture, the sense of loss is devastating. Farmers in Khour speak of paddy fields buried under sand and stone, while in Pallanwala, the fear is that cattle will suffer in the absence of green fodder. Their voices carry the weight of generations tied to the land, and their pleas for government support are not demands but desperate cries for survival. When livelihoods collapse in rural communities, the consequences extend beyond individual families. Entire village economies, dependent on the circulation of agricultural income, come under stress, and this ripple effect inevitably contributes to wider rural distress. The government has moved quickly to conduct preliminary surveys, with the Agriculture Department estimating compensation claims of over Rs 135 crore for farmers not covered under crop insurance schemes. Relief measures are being organized, registration centres opened, and field teams deployed. These are necessary first steps, but they remain emergency responses. The larger truth is that disasters of this scale are becoming frighteningly frequent, and the systems in place, insurance, disaster relief, crop diversification strategies have not kept pace with the new realities imposed by climate change. Floods, cloudbursts, and erratic monsoon patterns are no longer rare aberrations in the Himalayan foothills; they are now part of an emerging climate pattern. Each year, fragile ecosystems and vulnerable farming communities are exposed to devastating shocks, and each year, relief measures attempt to patch the damage. What is missing is a robust long-term vision that integrates climate resilience into agricultural planning. Soil and water management, flood-resistant crop varieties, scientific fodder reserves, and stronger insurance penetration are no longer optional; they are vital to the survival of farming communities. The socio-economic fallout of the current floods is a reminder that agriculture in regions like Jammu is not just an occupation but the backbone of rural life. When crops fail, not only does income vanish, but food security is threatened, children’s education gets disrupted, and health outcomes deteriorate. The looming fodder shortage adds another layer to the crisis, as livestock is both an economic and cultural anchor for households. Without immediate intervention, including fodder banks and supplementary feed supplies, the distress could deepen rapidly. There is also an urgent need to rethink disaster preparedness. Real-time monitoring of rainfall, soil saturation, and river flows must be made accessible to farmers so that preventive steps can be taken before damage escalates. Investments in rural infrastructure, such as check dams, drainage systems, and embankments, can significantly reduce the severity of floods. Equally important is empowering local communities through training and participatory planning so that resilience is built from the ground up.

The floods of September 2025 have once again underscored the vulnerability of Jammu’s farmers to the harsh realities of climate change. The challenge before us is not just to provide relief but to reimagine agriculture itself in ways that can withstand the shocks of a changing climate. The farmers of Jammu have shown resilience time and again, but resilience cannot be asked of them endlessly without systemic support. To secure the province’s future, the focus must shift from temporary compensation to sustainable adaptation. The choices made now will determine whether Jammu’s villages continue to be defined by despair or by renewal.