Opinion | Kashmir’s Horticulture: Economic Growth, Challenges, and Government Support

Kashmir’s horticulture sustains livelihoods, drives economic growth, and showcases global excellence, despite challenges like climate change and market barriers.

Horticulture is more than just an agricultural activity in Kashmir, it is the lifeline of the region’s economy. It increases the GDP of the state by approximately 9 percent (Directorate of Horticulture J&K Govt.). According to the Department of Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir, approximately seven lakh families are dependent on horticulture for their livelihood The annual export has reached 70 billion from the fruits alone (2022). According to the Directorate of Horticulture, J&K, only apple cultivation provides job opportunities to more than 3.5 lakhs of families. This is the potential of only one crop. The other two potential crops are walnut and cherry Horticulture has helped Kashmir carve out a niche in national and international markets, with products like apples and saffron enjoying worldwide acclaim. Orchards, flower gardens, and saffron fields have emerged as popular tourist destinations, merging horticulture with tourism and contributing to the economy in creative ways. Apart from economic benefits, horticulture plays a pivotal role in preserving Kashmir’s ecological balance and traditional farming practices. With its potential to transform the rural landscape, horticulture remains at the forefront of developmental planning in the region.
Kashmir’s diverse landscape supports the cultivation of an impressive array of horticultural crops renowned for their exceptional quality and flavour. Apples are the crown jewel of Kashmir’s horticulture, with over 113 varieties grown in the region, contributing more than 75% of India’s apple production. Varieties like Red Delicious, Ambri, and Kullu Delicious stand out, with Sopore, aptly called the “Apple Town,” serving as the production hub. Kashmiri saffron from Pampore, celebrated for its vibrant colour and unique aroma, holds a prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, underscoring its global exclusivity. Additionally, Kashmir is a leading producer of premium walnuts and almonds, which are in high demand both nationally and internationally. Floriculture also thrives here, with tulips, marigolds, and roses having significant ornamental and economic value. The annual Tulip Festival in Srinagar not only showcases the region’s floricultural potential but also boosts tourism, making Kashmir’s horticulture a vital contributor to its economy and cultural identity.
The horticulture sector in Kashmir, despite its immense potential, faces several challenges that hinder its growth and sustainability. Climate change poses a significant threat, with erratic weather patterns, unseasonal rainfall, and frequent hailstorms adversely affecting crop yields and quality. Infrastructure, once a major bottleneck, has seen remarkable improvements over the past three years. The valley, which previously relied on just 2-3 cold storage facilities, now boasts over 40, including 23 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage units in the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) at Lassipora. In November 2023, the J&K government allocated funds for 11 more CA units, which maintain optimal levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, humidity, and temperature to extend the shelf life of perishable produce. However, the existing capacity still falls short of demand, and the process for storing produce needs streamlining. Another pressing issue is market exploitation. The dominance of middlemen in the supply chain deprives farmers of fair prices, despite high consumer demand. Transportation also remains a concern. While the Srinagar-Jammu highway has improved significantly, particularly with the construction of new tunnels, winter disruptions continue to impact the timely movement of trucks loaded with produce. Addressing these challenges holistically is essential to unlock the true potential of Kashmir’s horticulture, ensuring sustainability and fair returns for its farmers.

Success story of horticultural entrepreneur.
In a ground breaking development for Jammu and Kashmir’s entrepreneurial landscape, Qul Fruit Wall, a horticultural start-up founded by Mir Khuram Shafi, which secured Rs 60 crore in foreign investment from Belgium-based Incofin and Indian growth platform Fiedlin, marking the region’s first private sector enterprise to attract such funding. Established in 2013-14, Qul Fruit Wall pioneered India’s first high-tech, high-density orchard, empowering over 5,000 farmers with AI-driven precision farming, quadrupling apple yields, and improving livelihoods. With over 600 employees, the startup plans to impact 30,000 farmers and cross INR 1,000 crore in revenues in five years, while diversifying into cherries, plums, kiwis, and pears. Supported by initiatives like the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP), Khuram envisions the region’s horticulture sector as a beacon of opportunity for youth, with the potential for farmers to earn Rs 8-12 lakhs per hectare through high-density orchards. This milestone reflects the untapped potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture industry and sets a precedent for private sector growth in the Himalayan region.

Government Initiatives and Policies:
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):
The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic development of horticulture . It focuses on an end-to-end approach, covering pre-production, production, post-harvest management, processing, and marketing. It aims to increase productivity through diversification of crops, adoption of advanced technologies like precision farming, and expanding the acreage of orchards and plantation crops. .MIDH promotes collaboration between public and private sectors for R&D, processing, and marketing, and supports the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) linked with market aggregators and financial institutions.
High-Density Plantation Scheme:
The government launched modified high-density plantation scheme for apple, walnut, cherries, mango, litchi and olive in collaboration with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. ( NAFED) . It involves planting a larger number of plants within a given unit of space for generating more income The scheme offers cultivators a 50% subsidy for establishing high-density orchards, along with a loan facility covering 40% of the remaining capital needed.
Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) :
It is a program in Jammu and Kashmir that aims to improve the agricultural economy by promoting sustainability and commercial viability. It includes 29 projects that cover various aspects of agriculture, such as horticulture, crop production, and livestock husbandry. It offers over 75 schemes to help farmers take their agricultural pursuits to the next level. The program aims to rejuvenate agricultural and allied sectors, ensure sustainable development, and promote economic growth for farmers.
J&K Grameen Bank Agri Clinics & Agri Business Centres (ACABC) :
This scheme offers loans for Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres. Agri-Clinics are envisaged to provide expert advice and services to farmers on various technologies .Agri-Business Centres are commercial units of agri-ventures established by trained agriculture professionals.

BOTTOMLINE:
Horticulture provides the Kashmir valley with an essential part of its economic, cultural and ecological balance. It has not only uplifted lives of millions but brought the region on the global map for quality produce like apples, saffron, and dry fruits. The sector faces extremely difficult challenges such as climate change, poor infrastructure and market exploitation and pest attack, which have prevented it from realising its full potential. However, with visionary entrepreneurs like Mir Khuram Shafi revolutionizing the industry and strong government initiatives like MIDH and HADP, there is great scope for overcoming these challenges. The above can make possible by promoting innovations, connecting the markets, and ensuring equitable participation of farmers to make horticulture in Kashmir a sustainable growth model for a rural development program, giving directions for a more prosperous future of the state.
The Writer is a well-known orator and a member of the Kashmir Writers Association and can be reached at nabeeljehangir885@gmail.com