A research centre in south Kashmir is set to begin supplying locally grown tulip bulbs and seeds to major gardens across the country, including the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar in a move aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on costly imports.Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), is developing the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Tulips at the Mountain Crop Research Station (MCRC) in Tangpawa-Sagam, Kokernag area of Anantnag district, over 407 kanals of land.The project is led by Prof Imtiyaz Nazki as Principal Investigator, with support from Prof Qazi Altaf, Head of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping.
The initiative focuses on the production, breeding, and multiplication of indigenous, high-quality tulip bulbs to achieve self-sufficiency and promote the crop as a viable cash alternative for farmers.
“At present, most tulip bulbs are imported from foreign markets, but this centre is expected to ensure local availability in the coming years,” said Prof Muhammad Ayoub Mantoo, Head of the MCRC.
He said nearly 50 percent flowering had already occurred at the site, with full bloom expected within a week, attracting visitors.
A Rs 80 million project, supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), is underway.
It includes land development, infrastructure upgrades, construction, fencing, and a seed storage facility.
Mantoo said a separate floriculture development project was also in the pipeline and awaiting approval.
India imports tulip bulbs worth about 3 billion to 4 billion rupees annually, with nearly 90 percent sourced from the Netherlands.
Mantoo said the project was expected to generate employment opportunities in Anantnag district, with local youth being trained in horticulture, seed production, packaging, and supply.
He said trial cultivation last year yielded encouraging results, leading to expansion this year, while the station attracted visitors and generated seasonal employment.
Experts say Kashmir’s temperate climate was well-suited for tulip cultivation.
Assistant Professor Muneeb said efforts were focused on improving bulb size and propagation techniques.
“A bulb size of 10 to 12 cm is ideal for flowering. Anything smaller results in vegetative growth,” he said. “It takes 2 to 3 years to reach flowering size.”
Muneeb said the centre aims to develop tulip cultivation on the lines of high-density apple farming and raise awareness among the farmers.
“Once farmers adopt this crop, it can boost the economy, offer better returns than apples and reduce dependence on imports,” he said.
Muneeb said the initiative would help make tulip cultivation in Kashmir more organised and sustainable.
“To reduce dependence on imports, SKUAST-K established this centre, where multiple varieties of bulbous flowers, mainly tulip along with hyacinth and lilium, will be cultivated to ensure higher yields,” he said.
Muhammad Ashraf, a pathologist at the station, said farmers were being encouraged to diversify into tulip cultivation alongside traditional crops and supported in marketing.
“Sustained efforts are being made to minimise imports in the coming years,” he said.
SKUAST-K also plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Netherlands for collaborative development of the project.
