Anantnag, Mar 29: Minister for Agriculture Production J&K Javaid Ahmad Dar on Sunday inaugurated a Tulip Garden at Sagam in Kokernag, aimed at promoting floriculture and boosting local employment.
He was accompanied by MLA Dooru Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K and other senior officials of the Agriculture Department.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag, Minister Dar said, “Every year we used to procure tulip bulbs from outside, which involved significant expenditure. Therefore, it was necessary to create our own ecosystem. This responsibility was entrusted to the university, and they have executed it very well.”
He said that an amount of ₹10 crore has been allocated for the development of the farm, where research, experiments and advanced cultivation practices will be carried out. “This initiative will bring new prosperity to the area, and I am happy to see the strong support extended by the local people,” he added.
Highlighting benefits for locals, the Minister said, “This is still at an early stage, but a good beginning has been made. With time, it will grow further and create economic opportunities. Tourist activity will increase, new avenues will open, and people, especially farmers, will get employment.”
He further said that the project will help transfer tulip cultivation technology to farmers. “Earlier, we depended on imports from countries like the Netherlands. Now we will train farmers under a cluster-based approach so they can grow bulbs locally, which will also be procured by the department,” he said.
Describing the initiative as a major step, the Minister said it is a gift not only for South Kashmir but for the entire Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the concept was developed and successfully implemented by the university. (KNC)
