Poonch to set up high-tech nurseries to boost horticulture yield

According to District Horticulture Officer Sanjeev Kumar, the department earlier used seeds to grow plants, which would take up to seven years to bear fruit. With the new grafting technique inside the poly greenhouse, fruit plants can now begin producing in just three years.

Kumar explained that HADP has been active in Jammu and Kashmir for the last two years and includes 29 projects launched by PM Modi. “Our main focus is horticulture, especially under projects 9, 15, and 21. We want farmers to grow their own plants and reduce dependence on external sources,” he said. He also mentioned plans to offer similar greenhouses to farmers at subsidized rates to help them increase productivity and income.

Poonch has a climate that suits the cultivation of pecan nuts, an exclusive crop in this part of the Union Territory. HADP aims to spread sustainability, self-sufficiency, and commercial success in the agrarian economy of the region.

Growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers plays a key role in the horticulture sector. Various branches come under this sector, such as floriculture, viticulture, pomology, and so on—all are focused on growing high-value plants for food, medicine, and ornamental plants.