Kathua,March 5,2026 – A young farmer from the border district of Kathua has emerged as a symbol of rural entrepreneurship by transforming strawberry cultivation into a profitable venture. Vikrant Sharma, a resident of Korepunnu village in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua, has built a thriving horticulture enterprise through dedication and innovation.
Vikrant began his journey with 20,000 strawberry plants, receiving initial support and guidance from the Horticulture Department. With consistent effort and growing market demand, he gradually expanded his farm to nearly one lakh strawberry plants, significantly increasing his production capacity.
Today, his strawberry farming venture generates over ₹10 lakh in annual income, making it one of the successful examples of high-value horticulture in the region. Beyond personal success, Vikrant has also created employment opportunities for around 15 local workers, including several women, contributing to livelihood generation in the area.
His success story is now inspiring many young people in the border belt of Jammu and Kashmir to explore commercial horticulture crops and adopt modern farming practices to achieve self-reliance.
Agriculture experts believe such initiatives demonstrate the immense potential of diversified farming and horticulture-based enterprises in boosting rural incomes and encouraging youth participation in the agriculture sector.
