Jammu and Kashmir Explores European Best Practices to Modernize Horticulture and Boost Farmer Revenue

SRINAGAR, July 28 — A high-level delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, led by Agriculture Production Department Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, concluded an official study tour across Europe to modernize the Union Territory’s horticulture sector through advanced technologies, precision mechanics, and global research partnerships.

Aiming to reduce reliance on external imports for high-density apple crops, the team—which included Horticulture Director Vikas Anand, former SKUAST-K Kashmir Research Director Haroon Rashid Naik, and HADP Principal Investigator A. Raouf Malik—inspected leading commercial nurseries to study disease-free propagation, phytosanitary standards, and certification systems to bolster local nursery infrastructure. Discussions at Koppert Biological Systems centered on climate-smart, biological crop protection to cut pesticide use, while visits to top agricultural machinery and fruit breeding institutions opened avenues for germplasm exchange, genomic research, and joint academic ventures.

Minister Dar confirmed that the experts will now formulate a comprehensive, actionable roadmap to integrate these European innovations into ongoing initiatives like HADP and JKCIP, establishing a sustainable, tech-driven future for local growers.