Sowing the Seeds of Sustainable Growth
By: Mohammad Hanief
Amid the towering peaks and tranquil lakes of Kashmir, a silent transformation is taking root—not in politics or tourism, but in the fertile soil of the valley’s agricultural lands. Often known for its scenic beauty and cultural richness, Kashmir is now steadily emerging as the heartland of a modern agricultural revival. Dubbed by many as the region’s own Green Revolution, this movement is quietly reshaping the valley’s agrarian identity.
Unlike the Green Revolution of the 1960s across the country, which relied heavily on chemical inputs and hybrid seeds, Kashmir’s agricultural transformation is rooted in sustainability, technology, climate resilience, and community participation. It is not merely an increase in yield—it is a broader social, economic, and environmental evolution.
Agriculture has always been central to Kashmir’s economy and cultural fabric. With nearly 70% of the population directly or indirectly dependent on farming, it is a vital source of income and sustenance. Traditional crops like paddy, maize, saffron, and apples have long dominated the valley’s landscape.
Yet, for decades, Kashmiri farmers faced serious challenges: low productivity, dependence on weather, limited mechanization, poor irrigation infrastructure, and inadequate market access. Despite the region’s fertile soil and abundant water resources, agriculture remained largely stagnant and vulnerable.
The need for change became even more apparent in recent years, as climate unpredictability, market volatility, and rising unemployment called for a new approach to farming—one that combined traditional wisdom with modern innovation.
The past few years have witnessed a deliberate and encouraging shift in how agriculture is practiced across the valley. Agricultural scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have developed crop varieties tailored to Kashmir’s unique climate.
High-yielding and disease-resistant strains of rice, maize, and wheat such as Shalimar Rice-1 and Shalimar Maize Composite-7 are helping farmers increase output and reduce input costs.
Farmers are gradually shifting from traditional tools to modern machinery like seed drills, tillers, and harvesters. In districts like Budgam and Baramulla, mechanized farming has cut labour costs and improved productivity, while drone technology is being piloted for crop monitoring and pesticide spraying.
Kashmir’s apple industry—contributing 75% to India’s total apple output—is being modernized through high-density plantation techniques. These new orchards occupy less space but yield more fruit, maturing in half the time of traditional trees. Cold storage chains, grading units, and packaging centers are strengthening the post-harvest infrastructure.
Farmers are diversifying into organic vegetables, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, lavender, and aromatic crops. Districts like Pulwama and Kulgam are emerging as hubs for certified organic produce, catering to growing demand in metropolitan markets. The GI-tagged Kashmiri saffron, once in decline, is witnessing a revival under the National Saffron Mission through better irrigation and cultivation practices.
One of the most promising aspects of this green resurgence is the participation of educated, tech-savvy youth. Frustrated by unemployment, many young Kashmiris are returning to their family lands—but with a business mindset. With training from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agri-startups and agri-entrepreneurs are engaging in greenhouse farming, poultry, fishery, floriculture, and integrated farming systems.
Stories of young graduates cultivating exotic vegetables, managing apiaries, or setting up agri-consultancies are becoming increasingly common. Government schemes such as Start-Up India, Mission Youth, and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund are encouraging innovation and enterprise in the farm sector.
Climate change has emerged as a major threat to Kashmir’s fragile ecology. Erratic rainfall, shorter winters, and rising temperatures are impacting crop cycles and water availability. In response, a growing number of farmers are adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices, including drip and sprinkler irrigation to conserve water, Soil health cards and customized fertilizer use, integrated pest management and organic alternatives and Crop rotation and intercropping to maintain soil fertility.
Additionally, the introduction of protected cultivation through poly houses and greenhouses is helping to grow crops year-round, even during harsh winters.
Nowhere is the impact of modern intervention more visible than in Pampore, the land of saffron. Once in decline due to water scarcity and unscientific practices, saffron cultivation is now reviving under the National Saffron Mission. With sprinkler-based irrigation systems, training in grading and drying techniques, and digital marketplaces, farmers are reaping the rewards of improved yield and global recognition.
The GI certification of Kashmiri saffron has opened international markets, with exports increasing and brand identity being restored.
To ensure the sustainability of Kashmir’s Green Revolution, policy and institutional support must remain robust for strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to enhance collective bargaining and improve input procurement. Expand cold storage and food processing infrastructure, especially in remote districts. Promote digital agriculture through mobile advisory services, weather forecasts, and e-marketing tools. Integrate tourism and agriculture through farm stays, fruit-picking festivals, and eco-agriculture initiatives.
Encourage women’s participation in farming cooperatives and training programs. Invest in agro-research for climate-resilient crops and sustainable practices tailored to Kashmir’s ecology.
The Green Revolution in Kashmir is a quiet but powerful movement—one rooted in the soil, guided by science, and carried forward by a new generation of resilient farmers. It is not an aggressive pursuit of output at the cost of ecology, but a careful balancing act between tradition and innovation, between yield and sustainability.
In the orchards of Shopian, the saffron fields of Pampore, and the vegetable farms of Ganderbal, a new story is being written. It is a story of revival, resilience, and responsibility—one that could serve as a model for other mountainous and ecologically sensitive regions in India.
Kashmir’s green awakening holds the promise not just of food security and rural prosperity, but of reclaiming dignity for its farmers, hope for its youth, and harmony with its environment.
(The author can be mailed at m.hanief@gmail.com)
