Srinagar, Apr 21: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), an aromatic herb known for its purple flowers and essential oils, has seen a steady rise in cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir. In the public sector, the acreage has grown from 60 to over 300 Kanals in the last three years in Kashmir.
Lavender, traditionally grown in Mediterranean climates, is now being successfully cultivated in Kashmir due to the region’s cool temperatures, dry weather, and well-drained soil. It is widely used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumes, and culinary products, and is valued for its medicinal properties.
Joint Director Extension Sartaj Ahmad Shah, said the crop suits Kashmir’s conditions and can be grown on fallow land, in high altitude areas and in orchards as an intercrop. “Lavender is a low-maintenance crop with good market demand. Farmers are shifting towards such crops for better returns,” he said.
He said the Floriculture Development Scheme has helped promote lavender farming across the Valley. Over the last three years, the public sector has expanded cultivation to more than 300 Kanals. This increase has also led to a rise in revenue—from Rs 5.5 lakh to around Rs 45 lakh.
Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the Department of Agriculture has set up three nurseries of five hectares each at Sirhama, Verinag, and Uri. These nurseries provide free planting material to farmers for use in orchards, fallow lands, and karewa areas.
“In 2023 and 2024, over 8 lakh lavender saplings were distributed to farmers across different districts, including Kathua and Poonch,” Shah said. Adding, “This expansion has supported the ongoing Purple Revolution.”
Floriculturist Dr Anjum said that to support farmers, 28 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been created across J&K. These FPOs help in training, education and facilitation of farmers through erection of polyhouses, establishment of distillation units and other logistics involved in primary processing of their produce.
She added that an FPO Park has also been set up at the Model Floriculture Centre in Nunner, Ganderbal. It is equipped with all necessary facilities like distillation units dryers, and machines for sealing, filling, and labelling.
The Lavender farms at Allowpora, Sirhama, Argicheck, and Nunner are now drawing attention. Sirhama and Nunner in particular are attracting tourists who come to see the scenic lavender fields.
“This is currently the only center where value addition of aromatic and medicinal products like essential oils, herbal soaps, balms, herbal tea etc are being carried. At this centre farmers are not only facilitated and trained about processing and value addition but also at the end they will be assisted to get their products certified, branded and marketed” Shah added.
Shabir Ahmad Baba (50), a resident of Mattan Anantnag said that he is an FBO registered farmer and that they have 10 kanals of land in Kund, Qazigund area , where there are around five farmers, currently engaged with lavender crops.
He said that they plant lavender from August to September and after three years it provides good crops. They harvest the crops during July to August and the crop is an excellent option from Kareva lands too.
“In a single Kanal of land around two liters of oil can be extracted or if flowers are dry around 200-300 kilograms can be the output. Besides, there are other FBO farmers too and many of them do much better business in cultivating Lavender crops and earn their livelihood amid unemployment issues,” Baba added.
