Srinagar, Jan 29 (KNO): In a very bold and forward-looking agriculture experiment, a young farmer from Pampore area of Pulwama district has launched Kashmir's first independent initiative for tulip bulb production. The move could significantly reduce the Valley's dependence on imported bulbs and open new avenues for rural employment and agri-tourism.
Irshad Ahmad Dar, a progressive farmer from Patal Bagh, Pampore, has planted 1500 tulip bulbs on his saffron land along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. He has undertaken this initiative at his own expense without any support from the government.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Irshad said he started with 1,500 bulbs on his own land. The seed material has been imported from Holland, and bulb multiplication will begin in May, he said.
"I brought everything myself, without any government support, purely based on my own idea and belief that tulips can be successfully grown and multiplied here," Dar added.
According to Irshad, the initiative holds strong economic potential, especially given the huge annual demand for tulips in Kashmir. "Every year, the government purchases tulip bulbs worth lakhs of rupees for the tulip garden in Srinagar. If we can grow and multiply these bulbs locally, why should we depend on imports?" he asked.
Located in an area already famous for saffron cultivation and naturally growing wild tulips, Irshad's farm offers a striking visual blend of purple saffron flowers and vibrant tulips during spring, attracting tourists, photographers and nature lovers.
Dar's farm is expected to attract more tourists, photographers and nature lovers.
He said that Kashmir's soil and climatic conditions are naturally suited for tulip bulb multiplication, but, as of now, the sector remains largely untapped.
"There is immense scope for local youth to enter this field as tulip farming can become a new commercial and employment-generating activity in the valley," he said.
Irshad said that with the government's support, this sector can prosper and provide employment opportunities to many youths in Kashmir—(KNO)