“Lavender is changing the face of farming and tourism in J&K as cultivation of this prized crop spreads from Baderwah town to parts of Kashmir Valley”
The lavender cultivation is the new attraction for both the farmers and as well as tourists in Jammu & Kashmir and more so in Baderwah and Reasi areas of Doda district besides parts of South and Central Kashmir districts. The growth in lavender cultivation has become an activity of pride even for the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh who during his visit to Bhaderwah last Sunday said that lavender is giving a unique identity to Jammu & Kashmir in agriculture farming in the country. With Dr Singh calling lavender a beacon of country’s start up revaluation the onus of expanding the trends of lavender cultivation now lies equally on Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Department and twin agriculture universities of Jammu & Kashmir. Lavender can be cultivated at more places having Bhaderwah like climatic and soil conditions as climatic conditions in many parts in Kashmir Valley are quite similar to that of Bhaderwah. While the onus of developing more interest for lavender cultivation among the farmers in Kashmir valley lies on Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Department, the agriculture universities of Kashmir and Jammu can identify more ideal places for lavender cultivation in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. Lavender farming becoming new source of livelihoods for farmers can lead to a revolution in the farming sector in Jammu & Kashmir. Lavender is as such a new route to agriculture entrepreneurship in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. The association of 3000 startups with the lavender farming as disclosed by Union Minister Dr Jitnendra Singh during his Badherwah visit on Sunday is in itself an indication that more emphasis on lavender cultivation would take agriculture entrepreneurship to unimaginable heights across the districts in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The interest for lavender cultivation is growing fast among farmers in parts of South and Central Kashmir besides Baderwah area of Doda District. The trend if spread to other districts of Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu division known for moderate cold during winters and low intensity heat during summer would show lavender cultivation becoming a new source of agri-entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir”
Lavender is not just a crop but a major source of growth for tourism also as World Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Centre is developing a joint venture of its unique kind in Bhaderwah area of Doda district. The project in Bhaderwah developed in collaboration with World Bank by J&K Government and Centre can as such become a source of inspiration for the launch of similar projects in parts of both Jammu division and Kashmir Valley. Experiences have shown that Lavender fields in their full bloom attract tourists in huge numbers to enjoy the vibrant scenery and more so at destinations like Pahalgam, Kokernag and Doodhpathri in South and Central Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Budgam districts besides Bhaderwah town of Doda district. A huge trend and tendency for lavender cultivation is fast increasing in parts of South Kashmir like Bhaderwah area of Doda districts. The interest in lavender cultivation among farmers can show tremendous response in other parts of Kashmir as well depending upon the initiatives Government takes in future. Since lavender thrives in cool winters, cool summers with ample sunlight, Kashmir Valley is one of the ideal places for its cultivation.
