Potential of Contract Farming to Promote Productivity of High-Value Agriculture Crops of Jammu & Kashmir: Evidence from Saffron Cultivation

Author(s)	Ms. Sumita Kumari, Ms. Nikita Sharma
Country	India
Abstract	Saffron is one of the most important high-value crops of Jammu and Kashmir, yet its cultivation has experienced a continuous decline in area, production, and productivity over the past two decades. This paper examines the potential of contract farming as a mechanism to revive saffron cultivation and promote high-value agriculture in the Union Territory. The study is descriptive and based on secondary data collected from research articles, government reports, and official publications. It analyses historical and recent trends in saffron cultivation and identifies key constraints, including weak market linkages, technological limitations, inadequate institutional support, adulteration, and the dominance of intermediaries. The review suggests that contract farming can address these challenges by providing assured markets, quality inputs, technical assistance, credit, and price stability. Strengthening farmer–agribusiness linkages through an enabling policy framework can enhance productivity, improve farmers' incomes, and contribute to the sustainable development of the saffron sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Keywords	Contract farming, high–value crops, Saffron
Field	Sociology > Economics
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-09
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.85491

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