The horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir has expanded over the past three years, with a 3% increase in area under major crops, reaching 345,000 hectares, and an 18.5% rise in production, now totaling 2.64 million metric tons, as per the Economic Survey Report 2024.
High/Medium Density Plantations have grown from 881 hectares in 2020-21 to 18,054 hectares by March 2024. A senior official from the Department of Horticulture noted, "The adoption of high-density plantation methods has been a game-changer for our horticulture sector."
The distribution of high-density plants increased five-fold, supported by the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP), which allocated approximately $123.4 million to specific projects. The HADP aims to expand fruit production to potentially 50,000 hectares by 2047.
Infrastructure improvements include 270,000 metric tons of Controlled Atmosphere storage capacity, with plans to add 25,000 metric tons this year and expand to 55,000 metric tons over five years. These facilities help stabilize fruit markets by allowing growers to store produce.
Market linkage has improved, with 17 out of 24 mandis connected to the e-NAM platform, facilitating transactions worth approximately $54.1 million. The export of fresh fruit reached 1.36 million metric tons, generating about $616.7 million, while dry fruit exports contributed approximately $79.3 million.
The floriculture subsector has also grown, with 276 gardens and 10,789 registered floriculture growers. The 16th Tulip Show in 2024 attracted 446,000 tourists. Overall tourism in horticultural spaces saw footfall reaching 6.57 million, generating approximately $1.73 million in 2023-24.
Source: Greater Kashmir