Umaisar Gull Ganie
Anantnag, Dec 6: Gund Chal Arwani, a village in Bijbehara tehsil of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, is making a mark as a major hub for onion sapling cultivation. Spanning over 450 kanals of fertile land, the village generates substantial revenue and supplies saplings across the region.
According to locals, the village has been reliant on vegetable cultivation for decades. This season, hundreds of kanals are dedicated to onion saplings, with quintals being grown to meet the demand in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, including areas like Rajouri and Ramban.
“The entire village, comprising around 200 families, is actively engaged in sapling cultivation during this season. Our land is highly fertile, and crores of saplings are being grown,” said Ghulam Nabi, a local farmer.
Both men and women are working tirelessly in the fields to ensure the stock is sold before snowfall, he added. “We are thankful to the Agriculture Department for their guidance and support, including help with marketing, machinery, and fertilizers.”
Chief Agriculture Officer Anantnag, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, said that Gund Chal has become a focal point for vegetable cultivation, with 450 kanals of land under cultivation and 200 families actively participating.
“The village has been adopted under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme, which focuses on transitioning from inorganic to organic farming,” he said.
Onion saplings from Gund Chal cater to the demand across Kashmir and parts of Jammu, including Ramban, Kishtwar, and Rajouri. During the Rabi season, sapling cultivation is the village’s primary focus, while in spring, the emphasis shifts to cucumbers.
“About 80% of the cucumbers grown here are exported outside Kashmir, providing another significant source of income,” Dar said.
Dar highlighted the department’s efforts in supporting the farmers, including the provision of tubewells, organic fertilizers, chemicals, machinery, and toolkits.
“For marketing, we organize symposiums and showcase village produce at stalls. This village generates an impressive annual revenue of Rs 15 crores,” he added.
