JUNE 07: In a significant step toward enhancing horticultural capacity and improving farmer livelihoods, the Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir has inaugurated a new poly greenhouse nursery at its district headquarters in Poonch. This development comes under the ambit of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), a strategic initiative aimed at boosting agricultural innovation and self-reliance in the region.
The newly launched poly greenhouse is designed to support year-round cultivation of fruit-bearing plants, regardless of seasonal constraints. Traditionally, the department relied on seed-based propagation, which could take up to seven years for fruit plants to mature. However, with the implementation of grafting techniques and controlled environment farming, this period has been reduced to just three years.
District Horticulture Officer Sanjeev Kumar stated that this facility is part of a larger mission under HADP, with specific focus on horticulture projects numbered 9, 15, and 21. “Our aim is to encourage farmers to cultivate their own plant material, minimize external dependency, and create self-sustaining horticulture practices,” he said.
The department also plans to offer poly greenhouse units to individual farmers on a subsidized basis. This move is expected to significantly enhance production quality and volumes, ultimately leading to improved farmer incomes. Poonch, in particular, is well-known for its potential in cultivating Pecan nuts—one of the few districts in the Union Territory suitable for this high-value crop. Apples are also cultivated extensively in the region.
The poly greenhouse initiative also aligns with HADP’s wider objective of integrating 29 major agricultural and horticultural projects under one umbrella. These projects aim to modernize the sector, reduce input costs, promote sustainable practices, and ensure commercial viability for small and marginal farmers.
With its advanced infrastructure and climate-resilient features, the poly greenhouse in Poonch stands as a model for innovation in hill agriculture. As more such initiatives roll out, Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector is set for a transformative leap forward.
