Srinagar, 19 June (H.S.): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today termed the Lavender cultivation as a potential game-changer for the Jammu and Kashmir's agriculture and tourism sectors, saying the crop could help farmers increase incomes while attracting visitors to rural areas.

Addressing the Lavender Festival in Nuner village of Ganderbal district, the Chief Minister said the Government wants Lavender fields to remain in bloom for longer periods so that tourists traveling through the area can stop, take photographs, and promote the region's scenic beauty across the country.

We have seen how visitors are drawn to Lavender fields for photographs. These images will be shared widely and help make Nuner known not only across Kashmir but throughout India, he said.

Highlighting the economic potential of the crop, Omar said Lavender requires relatively less water and fewer chemical inputs than many traditional crops, making it a viable alternative for farmers facing the challenges of climate change and erratic weather patterns. The weather is changing. Sometimes there is too little rainfall and sometimes too much. Farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture are particularly vulnerable. We are encouraging cultivation of crops that can increase incomes while reducing risks, he said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar