Bhaderwah, May 30: Marginal farmers in Bhaderwah Valley who shifted from traditional maize cultivation to lavender farming under the Aroma Mission are expecting a bumper harvest this season, reflecting what growers describe as a positive transformation in the region’s agricultural landscape.
The shift toward aromatic crop cultivation has emerged as an alternative livelihood model for hill farmers, with local families reporting improved economic prospects and greater optimism compared to conventional farming practices.
Around 20 families in Raie hamlet of Shiva Panchayat have adopted lavender cultivation and are witnessing changing livelihood patterns through the crop, according to local accounts.
Farmers said the move from maize cultivation to lavender farming had generated renewed interest in agriculture due to better returns and growing market demand associated with aromatic plants.
Touqeer Bagban, widely known as the “Lavender Man of India,” said the initiative under the Aroma Mission had opened new opportunities for growers in the region.
He credited Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) for supporting and promoting the initiative.
Bagban said the intervention had helped transform the agricultural outlook of the region and encouraged farmers to adopt alternative cultivation methods suited to local conditions.
The development is being viewed as part of a broader shift toward diversification in farming practices in hill areas, where traditional agriculture often faces economic and climatic challenges.
With harvesting season is in progress, farmers in Bhaderwah said they were hopeful that this year’s lavender crop would further strengthen incomes and encourage more cultivators to join the initiative. [KNT]
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