Once known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Kashmir’ for its extensive rice cultivation, Kulgam district in South Kashmir has shifted from traditional farming to nursery cultivation, with a large tracts of agricultural land now dedicated to this thriving industry, generating an estimated revenue of Rs 100 crore annually.
Thousands of educated yet unemployed youth in the district have embraced nursery farming as a viable source of livelihood. Hundreds of modern nursery units have been established, offering a diverse range of hybrid plants and rootstocks, including imported varieties from countries like Italy and the USA (notably Washington and California).
At the heart of this flourishing industry lies Qaimoh tehsil, which has emerged as its epicenter. Nearly 90% of Qaimoh’s population is actively engaged in nursery farming, solidifying its status as a hub of innovation and economic growth.
Hilal Ahmad Zargar, an entrepreneur, said that almost all families in the Qaimoh area are associated with the plant nursery business. “In this era of unemployment, even educated individuals, including PhD scholars, are opting for this business. We are trying to cultivate rootstocks that we currently import from foreign countries like Europe and America. This will help generate more income,” he said.
He said that new varieties of plants are being cloned in Qaimoh as importing them from other countries is expensive. “Besides benefiting our farmers, we are also cultivating varieties of apples, plums, peaches, apricots, and persimmons here,” he said.
