SRINAGAR: Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Departments, on Sunday inaugurated a new Tulip Garden at MCRS Sagam, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K). The inauguration took place during the Minister’s visit to the Centre of Excellence for Tulip and Temperate Bulb Production.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Minister was accompanied by MLA Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, along with senior officials, scientists, and researchers from the university and allied departments. During the visit, Dar conducted a detailed inspection of the tulip beds and reviewed ongoing floriculture research and developmental activities at the Centre. He also released a publication detailing the Centre’s research achievements, innovations, and developmental initiatives, highlighting its growing contribution to advancing scientific floriculture in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing media personnel, Minister Javid Ahmad Dar commended the local community’s active involvement in developing the Tulip Garden, terming it a successful model of participatory development. He noted that despite being in its nascent stage, the garden possesses substantial potential for future expansion. The initiative is anticipated to stimulate tourist influx, foster economic activity, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities within the region.
The Minister further stated that the project is expected to decrease reliance on imported tulip bulbs, thereby enhancing self-sufficiency and supporting the local economy. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to developing Jammu and Kashmir into a premier hub for high-value floriculture through strategic investments, policy support, and institutional strengthening.
Emphasizing the importance of research-driven development, Dar called for a more integrated approach between scientific innovation and practical agricultural implementation at the field level. He stressed the necessity of accelerating the adoption of modern technologies among farmers to improve productivity, ensure sustainability, and increase their returns.
Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, outlined the university’s commitment to pioneering research and farmer-centric innovations. He described the Sagam Tulip Garden as a critical step towards achieving self-sufficiency in bulb production while simultaneously promoting diversification and resilience within Kashmir’s agricultural sector.
The event also included a one-day workshop on “Potential of Tulip Bulb Production in Kashmir.” During the workshop, experts, scientists, and progressive farmers engaged in detailed discussions covering crop diversification, high-density cultivation, modern farming techniques, and sustainable development strategies. Participants identified tulip cultivation as a promising and profitable venture for farmers in the Valley.
Among the other dignitaries present were senior scientists HR Naik, Raihana Habib Kanth, and Anamika Dey, alongside various officials, progressive farmers, and members of the civil society.
The Chenab Times News Desk