Agriculture occupies an important place in the state of J&K economy. The share of agriculture and allied sector in GSDP at 1999-2000 prices for the year 2007-08 stands at 26.91% on the other hand 70% of the population of the state depend directly or indirectly on it. Agriculture is considered as the back bone of the state economy in reality. However it has been treated as a back bone without a spinal cord, because its position has been deplorable.Even though the departments of agriculture and SKUAST have introduced from time to time high yielding varieties of seeds (HYV) like china 1039, K-39, k-448, SR9, K332 etc. Traditional crops like Drangi Bar, Chari- Bar, Rahimbar, K78 are still being cultivated in various parts of Kashmir valley especially the villages of Tehsil khansahib and Tehsil Khag. Besides these Zag rise Muska-Budji is also been cultivated in some villages of khansahib tehsil. Hence in the present study an attempt has been made to examine the extent to which these varieties are being cultivated, to evaluate the costs and returns of these varieties and to account for the variation in the returns.This book will be helpful for researchers and agricultural scientists.

There is no doubt that women's contribution to the family and national economy is much more than their actual earnings. Empowerment of women refers to present situation in which they can decide their own destiny and performing a variety of tasks related to agriculture. In the present book an attempt has been made through an empirical study to uncover all those questions pertaining to women empowerment through agricultural activity viz. her involvement, decision making, overburdening of work, discrimination, effects on personality as well as on family structure. This book will be useful for researchers, economists, policy planners, NGO's and other organizations working for the empowerment of women.

India has the distinction of employing the large number of working children in the world. The problem of child labour not only persists but also perpetuates in the unorganized sector /industries in India. Therefore ILO and government of India have recognized this problem as a harsh reality. To them it is neither possible nor feasible to stop the menace altogethe under the existing socio-economic conditions. Millions of children across the country are missing the joys of child hood as poverty, hunger; deprivation and unemployment of their parents force them into adult roles. The book is the study of the lives of these little ones whose little hands and nimble fingers are constantly engaged in carpet weaving industry of Kashmir. To give comprehensive view about the problem of working children an effort has been made here to elicit opinion of parents and employers also. The book will be useful not only those who are interested in the study and understanding of child labour, but also may be helpful to research scholars, academicians, social workers and others interested in studying the growing problem of child labour.