Srinagar, June 28: Lavender cultivation received a major push in north Kashmir after the Agriculture Department set up two nurseries at Trikanjan Boniyar and Sultandakhi in Uri to promote high-value farming and boost farmer incomes.

The Trikanjan nursery, spread over nearly 40 kanals, has been equipped with a state-of-the-art lavender oil extraction and processing unit for producing premium essential oil and perfumes. The Sultandakhi nursery, covering around 10 kanals, will cultivate and distribute quality lavender planting material to farmers.
Besides lavender, the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Farm at Trikanjan is cultivating high-value species including rosemary, Saussurea costus, Bergenia ciliata, Artemisia annu, and Acorus calamu
Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Uri, Mustaq Elhai said the initiative aims to encourage farmers to adopt medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation as a commercial venture. The department is providing technical guidance, quality planting material, and continuous support to interested growers.
Officials said that the establishment of nurseries and the processing facility marks a significant step toward developing Uri as a hub for medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation, with lavender emerging as a promising cash crop to strengthen the local agricultural economy