Rajouri, March 2,2026- In a significant step toward enhancing farmers’ income, the Union Government has allocated a dedicated fund in this year’s budget to promote medicinal plant cultivation across selected regions. Acting on the initiative, the Agriculture Department has launched trial plantations in select villages of Rajouri district.
The move aims to encourage crop diversification and introduce high-value medicinal herbs that can generate better returns for farmers compared to traditional crops.
Trial Plantation Begins in Siot
In Siot village, progressive farmer Ramesh Kumar has volunteered his land for trial cultivation of various medicinal plants. The initiative is being closely monitored by agriculture officials to assess soil compatibility, yield potential, and market viability.
Assistant Executive Engineer (Agriculture) Devinder Singh stated that the trials are part of a broader strategy to introduce sustainable and profitable farming models in the district.
Scope for Income Diversification
Officials highlighted that medicinal plant cultivation holds strong market demand in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and wellness industries. If the trials prove successful, the program will be expanded to other areas of Rajouri, enabling more farmers to adopt the model.
The initiative is expected to provide farmers with an alternative income source, reduce dependency on conventional crops, and potentially double their earnings over time.
With growing interest among local farmers, Rajouri could soon emerge as a hub for medicinal plant cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir, aligning with the government’s vision of sustainable agriculture and rural prosperity.
