Kashmir-based start-up Orchardly has joined forces with a Dutch company, Koppert, aiming to grow pesticide-free and healthy fruit in the Valley. Industry experts claim that, as of late, Kashmir has seen a sharp increase in the use of pesticides. They blame the swift conversion of agricultural land into high-density orchards on the unabated use of these harmful chemicals.
Offering effective and eco-friendly solutions to this growing menace, Orchardly, the first Agtech start-up of J&K, which specializes in horticulture, has collaborated with the Dutch Company Koppert.
“We are focusing on biological control of pests and a range of bio-agents with less/negligible residue levels. Having partnered with Koppert, which is a world leader, we aim to provide an integrated system of specialist knowledge and natural, safe solutions that improve crop health, resilience, and production. This will eventually help farmers in many ways,” Ehsan Quddusi, one of the co-founders of Orchardly said, adding that growers and farmers worldwide use Koppert’s products and knowledge to restore the natural balance in their crops.
Source: thekashmirmonitor.net