Kashmir Horticulture Gains Momentum Through Modernization

The Kashmiri plum harvest has concluded with farmers successfully navigating significant weather-related setbacks. Although hailstorms impacted orchards across Pulwama, Budgam, and other key fruit-growing regions, resilient market demand and improved price realization helped growers offset production losses. Farmers reported that steady market prices provided a vital financial cushion during the season, which ran from mid-June through early July. Industry representatives noted that approximately 25 to 35 metric tonnes of plums were moved into controlled atmosphere storage, emphasizing the shift toward fresh market sales due to the fruit's limited shelf life.

Parallel to the harvesting season, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has intensified its outreach to modernize regional agriculture. Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Gani led field visits to Srinagar and Anantnag districts, where university scientists evaluated local practices and promoted high-yield techniques. A visit to Wantrag village highlighted successful intensive watermelon and muskmelon farming, which university experts are using as a model for wider adoption. The initiative focuses on technology-driven interventions, including hi-tech poly-house cultivation, precision irrigation, and integrated disease management protocols.

The push for modernization extends beyond field cultivation to post-harvest handling, with experts urging farmers to adopt professional grading and sorting practices to enhance market connectivity. As the plum season draws to a close, growers are preparing for the upcoming harvest of pears, peaches, and apples. SKUAST-K’s ongoing commitment to building a direct link between research scientists and field practitioners is expected to bolster regional farm incomes. By integrating tech-driven methods into traditional farming, the region aims to increase the productivity and commercial viability of the horticulture sector, providing long-term economic stability for hundreds of farming families across the Valley.