Sameer Ahmad Bhat, a graduate in agriculture sciences always dreamt of setting up his farm to utilize his knowledge in growing exotic vegetables. The lack of enough land has always been a concern for him. Soon after completing his graduation in 2023, he got in touch with a firm, which had expertise in hydroponic farming.
With an initial investment of Rs 30,000, he successfully set up a hydroponic vegetable farm on a small patch of land. The rest is history. He is one of the successful farmers who grow varieties of exotic vegetables including broccoli, and lettuce apart from the local vegetables.
"During my course, I came across this concept. I got in touch with a firm that provided me assistance and trained me in hydroponic farming. I grow varieties of vegetables in good quantities and earn a handsome amount of money," he said.
As the popularity of hydroponics grows in Kashmir, experts believe it could transform the region's agricultural landscape. "By enabling sustainable, year-round cultivation, hydroponic farming offers a glimmer of hope for a region looking to balance tradition with innovation," said Irshad Ahmad Bhat, a botanist.
Read more at The Kashmir Monitor