Here Is How This Village in Kashmir contributes ​some 30 Cr ​to India's economy annually

Sameer Showkin Lone

Shopian: Sitting on the bank of fast flowing Rambi Ara ​river, Heff-Shirmal village in ​south Kashmir's Shopian​ district of Jammu and Kashmir grows almost every essential variety needed in a ​day to day life.

With a population of around 3000 and a geographical area of 4.13 square kilometers, the village is among the rare habitations involved in multi-farming. The village is now silently entering into fish farming, which was otherwise unheard of in the village some 10 years ago.

The village, as per locals, has 10 fish farms currently.

Firdous Ahmad, an ex-village head, said he owns three fish farms and his two by his other brothers. "We put 2000 fishes in one farm. Once fully grown, three fishes weigh one kilogram. So, on an average my three farms produce 2000 Kilograms of fish annually.

They are producing high quality trout fish.

Firdous added that he was the first to start fish farming some six years ago. Today the village has 10 fish farms that produce an annual fish production of around 150-200 quintals, which amounts to Rs 1 to 1.5 Cr approximately.  

“We sell it in the locality and surrounding villages. We have some permanent buyers, including hoteliers from nearby towns,” said Shabir Ahmad, another fish farm owner.

Director Fisheries (Kashmir), Irshad Ahmad Shah said there was a social stigma related to the fish farming. “Now things have changed with the time. We have been able to privatise fish farming. Under different centrally sponsored schemes, the seed is being provided on a 60:40 ratio. 60 percent is being paid by the government to the farmer,” he said.

Mr Shah said the people of Shopian and Kulgam districts have fast adopted the culture of fish farming. 

However, apple and paddy continue to remain the mainstay crops in the village with around 415 hectares of land used for different crop cultivations throughout the year, said the locals.

According to the locals, the Heff-shirmal gram panchayat produces over 300,000 boxes of apples annually. On an average the apple box sells at price Rs 700 , making it 21 Cr rupees. So the village contributes an estimated around 20 Cr rupees to the economy of J & K annually.” 

The villages are involved in farming of other crops too including Maize, Wheat, Pulses, peas (at a large scale).