Kashmir’s Qul Fruit Wall first pvt horticultural venture in J&K to garner foreign investment

In a landmark development for the entrepreneurial landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Qul Fruit Wall, a horticultural startup based in the region, has secured a significant foreign investment of Rs 60 crore. This investment, made by Belgium-based impact investor Incofin and Indian growth capital platform Fiedlin, marks the first time a private sector enterprise in the region has received such substantial foreign funding.
Founded by Mir Khuram Shafi, an alumnus of Tyndale Biscoe School in Srinagar, Qul Fruit Wall has emerged as a pioneering force in the region’s horticulture industry. Khuram, who pursued higher education in the United States before returning to his roots, established India’s first high-tech, high-density orchard in 2013-14, integrating cutting-edge technologies on a 2-hectare land.
Speaking about the investment, Khuram emphasised its significance in unlocking opportunities for increased foreign institutional capital in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the immense potential of the region’s horticulture industry, which supports the livelihoods of half of its population. Qul Fruit Wall’s mission, Khuram explained, is to transform lives by improving livelihoods and quadrupling apple yields within five years.
With plans to scale up operations and extend their impact to 30,000 farmers, Qul Fruit Wall aims to cross revenues of INR 1,000 crores in the next five years. The startup, which currently employs over 600 individuals, covers the entire value chain from orchard installation and development to controlled atmospheric storage facilities and digital supply chain integration.
Khuram emphasized Qul’s farmer-centric approach, which empowers small and marginal farmers through precision farming techniques and AI/ML tools. Over the past four years, Qul has successfully transitioned over 5,000 farmers to high-tech, high-density farming, resulting in higher yields, better quality produce, and increased farmer incomes.
“The enabling policy environment in Jammu and Kashmir, coupled with initiatives like the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP), further bolster Qul’s efforts to revolutionize the horticulture sector in the region,” he said.
“We plan to expand beyond the apple value chain into other fruit categories such as cherries, plums, kiwis, and pears,” he said. He expressed optimism about the role of youth in driving the expansion of the horticulture industry, citing initiatives like the HADP that offer significant earning potential for young farmers in the region.
Incofin and Fiedlin’s investment in Qul Fruit Wall not only underscores the startup’s vision for a brighter and more resilient future for temperate crops in Jammu and Kashmir but also sets a precedent for private sector growth and investment in the entire Himalayan region.
The young entrepreneur says there is good scope in the horticulture industry in Kashmir and our youth can be explored at a larger level.
“Even the Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP), promoting high-density apple orchards in the Himalayan region through which our youth can earn 8-12 lakhs on 1 hectare of land,” he added.