J&K’s first tea plantation drive launched in Kathua’s Billawar

Srinagar: In a first-of-its-kind agricultural initiative for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Agriculture Department has launched a tea plantation drive in the hilly terrains of Billawar in Kathua district.

The move is being hailed as a landmark step toward diversifying the region’s agri-economy and introducing alternative cash crops tailored to the local climate and geography.

As part of this ambitious project, over 20,000 tea saplings are being planted in the initial phase. The saplings have been carefully sourced from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, a region renowned for its thriving tea industry and optimal growing conditions.

Officials said the idea was born out of the need to tap into Billawar’s unique topography and relatively mild climatic conditions, which bear similarities to established tea-growing zones in the Himalayan foothills.

The plantation drive was formally inaugurated this week and has already generated interest among local farmers and horticulture enthusiasts.

“This is a pioneering step that could redefine agriculture in the region,” said an official from the Agriculture Department.

“Tea is not only a sustainable and high-value crop but also well-suited to Billawar’s elevation and rainfall pattern. If successful, it could transform the rural economy and open up new avenues for employment and agro-tourism.”

Local MLA Satish Sharma, who participated in the launch event, commended the Agriculture Department for taking this bold and innovative step. “The climatic and soil conditions across the Shivalik range in Billawar closely resemble those in Palampur. This gives us a promising baseline to develop tea cultivation in this part of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Experts say that tea cultivation could take root in several other parts of Jammu and Kashmir as well, particularly in areas with similar hilly terrain and rainfall conditions. The department is currently monitoring the adaptation and growth rate of the saplings and plans to provide training to interested farmers on plantation techniques, soil management, and post-harvest processing.

The launch has sparked optimism among the local farming community, which has traditionally depended on maize and wheat. “If tea works here, it could change our fortunes,” said Mohan Lal, a farmer from a nearby village. “We’ve seen how tea brought prosperity to regions in Himachal and Assam—maybe it’s our turn now.”