In Srinagar's bustling downtown, a quiet revolution is taking root—literally. Electricians, government employees, and ordinary citizens are transforming their modest courtyards into productive farms, without using a single handful of soil. This approach to urban agriculture is reshaping how Kashmiris think about food production, one PVC pipe at a time.
Ashiq Hussain, a 28-year-old electrician from Kander Mohalla Saidakadal, stands proudly beside what looks like an elaborate plumbing project gone rogue.
Ten PVC pipes, arranged in neat vertical rows, sprout vibrant greens from circular holes. "This is the future of farming," he beams, plucking fresh spinach leaves from his 3×6 feet hydroponic setup.
Like many Kashmiris, Hussain had long resigned to purchasing vegetables from the market, constrained by the region's limited agricultural space. That changed a few months ago when he discovered hydroponics—a soilless farming technique that's rapidly gaining popularity across the Valley.
Read more at Greater Kashmir.