Anantnag, Jun 19 (KNO): Lavender farming is steadily gaining momentum in Kashmir, with the sprawling Sirhama Lavender Farm in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district emerging as a major learning hub for farmers interested in cultivating the aromatic and medicinal crop.
Farmers from different parts of the Valley regularly visit the farm to gain firsthand knowledge of cultivation practices, crop management, and the commercial potential of lavender, which is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to conventional farming.
The farm, spread over 620 kanals, has drawn attention for its successful cultivation model, encouraging growers to explore lavender farming on both agricultural and barren land.
Nazir Ahmad Khatana, a farmer from Nagras Qazigund, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the exposure visit organised by the Agriculture Department helped him understand the vast economic potential of lavender cultivation.
"Farmers can earn two to four times more income from lavender compared to many traditional crops. The biggest advantage is that the crop is planted only once and can continue producing for nearly 15 years," he said.
Khatana said lavender can also be grown in vacant spaces within apple orchards, making better use of available land while helping reduce the presence of rodents and other pests.
He said the crop is particularly suitable for hilly areas because its strong fragrance discourages wild animals, such as monkeys and bears, from entering orchards and damaging crops.
Calling for better marketing facilities, Khatana urged the government to establish a dedicated collection and marketing centre for lavender produce to help farmers access larger domestic and international markets.
Farm In-charge Kamal Bhat said the department provides complete training and technical guidance to farmers before they take up lavender cultivation. He said the crop requires minimal inputs and is largely grown using organic manure, reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
"We regularly organise lavender festivals and awareness programmes to educate farmers about the crop and its economic value," Bhat said. He said around 3.5 lakh lavender saplings were distributed free of cost among farmers under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) last year.
Bhat said the farm has previously exported 45 boxes of lavender, each weighing 10 kilograms, to Dehradun for tea-making purposes.
Describing lavender as a drought-resistant crop, he said one kanal can yield nearly one quintal of flowers, while lavender oil fetches around Rs 12,000 per litre in the market. He said lavender has wide applications in cosmetics, aromatherapy, herbal teas, repellents and medicinal products.
Bhat further said a distillation unit has now been established at the Sirhama farm, enabling farmers to process lavender oil locally without depending on facilities outside the district.
Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Anantnag, Shahnawaz Ahmad Shah, told KNO that the district has two Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAP) clusters, each spread over 20 hectares, where medicinal plants are distributed free of cost among farmers along with technical training. He said farmers can apply under HADP to avail free medicinal plant seedlings from the department.
Shah said the department also maintains a 600-kanal gene bank of medicinal and aromatic plants at Verinag.
"Medicinal and aromatic plants are emerging as a reliable source of income for farmers. Lavender is a perennial crop that can be cultivated even on barren land and requires comparatively less irrigation," he said.
The CAO said Anantnag district currently has two distillation units for the extraction of essential oils from aromatic crops. He said lavender cultivation is also contributing to the growth of agri-tourism, with tourists and farmers visiting the Sirhama farm regularly.
"Sirhama is the largest lavender farm in the Kashmir Valley and has become an important centre for awareness, training and promotion of lavender cultivation," Shah added—(KNO)