TRENDS
Paradise Lost, & Found: J&K sees rush of foreign tourists following Srinagar G20 summit
In what may be a revival of the heady days of Kashmiri tourism, when this Paradise on Earth used to be awash with travellers and film crews, the region has seen a huge surge in overseas visitors. Pray, that holds, and the guns cease smoking.
BUSINESS
Heavy rains: Weather vagaries, floods jolt Himachal Pradesh’s apple industry
Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Kinnaur recorded over 400 percent rainfall between July 7 and July 11 and consequent flooding and landslides destroyed the apple orchards, causing massive losses and damages to the state's Rs 5,500-crore apple industry.
INDIA
The Italian Job in J&K: High-density farming redefines state’s apple industry
This mode of farming, introduced in the state with the help of seeds and planting materials, mainly from Italy in 2015-16, is giving better crops and higher returns.
TRAVEL
6 Sufi shrines of Kashmir you must visit
The Sufi shrines, also called Dargahs, are exquisite pieces of splendid architecture that are peppered across Kashmir and add to the picturesque beauty of the Valley.
BUSINESS
Road shipment of Ladakhi apricots should lead to reduced costs, drive demand
Shipping apricots by air costs Rs 60 per kg, compared to just Rs. 5 per kg by road. This will ultimately benefit both farmers as well as consumers.
TRAVEL
5 beautiful border villages of Kashmir you must visit
Since the truce in February 2021, the peace on the border has drawn both international and domestic tourists to these scenic villages on the Kashmir border, which were earlier no-go zones.
TRENDS
17 international cricketers to use Kashmir willow bats during ODI World Cup in India
As many as 17 international cricket players from three different countries are set to play with Kashmir willow bats during the upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup
INDIA
Meri Maati Mera Desh: Kashmiri glazed pottery diyas to brighten J&K government offices on August 15
ENVIRONMENT
The olives in your local market may have been grown in J&K
As climate change makes it harder and less profitable to grow fruits and vegetables that were traditionally farmed in Kashmir, J&K farmers are also growing dates, olives, kiwi, dragon fruit, oranges, lemons now.
TRENDS
Why a houseboat owner in J&K launched Amazon India’s first floating store in Srinagar
Houseboat owners say they are struggling to earn enough through tourism, to keep this piece of Kashmiri heritage alive. Kashi says he too started the Amazon India floating store to supplement his family income.
INDIA
High-tech spice park adds a dash of colour to Kashmir’s saffron
Scientific processing methods and stringent quality checks have improved the saffron hitting the markets, increasing returns for farmers and making Kashmir’s saffron globally competitive.
ENVIRONMENT
Braving climate, thousands of devotees go on Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir
All you wanted to know about the 2023 Amarnath Yatra, including Yatra dates, Amarnath Yatra routes that are open now, trekking time, security arrangements, and climate watch.
ENTERTAINMENT
Kashmir's Betaab Valley remains a top choice for film shooting
From Bollywood to south Indian movies, the rise in film shooting in Kashmir is expected to give a huge fillip to Jammu & Kashmir’s economy and also boost film tourism in the region.
ECONOMY
Kashmir new cash crop mushroom brings good news for its women
More than 150 women in #Kashmir associated with mushroom farming, which is preferred by women because they can grow it at home while doing house chores and earn a good income.
ART
Srinagar youth revives the dying art of Kashmir’s glazed pottery
At present, only Mohammad Umar Kumar and his elderly teacher artisan Ghulam Muhammad Kumar are engaged in the making of Rogan-i-Keam or glazed pottery, also known as Dalgate pottery or Khanyar pottery, in the region.
BUSINESS
Threat of pest infestation looms over apple orchards in Kashmir
The Apple Leaf Blotch Miner, first detected in 2021 in Zainapora, has spread to a number of orchards in Shopian, Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama districts, the Union Territory’s top growing regions.
ENTERTAINMENT
First time in decades, Kashmiri-produced Bollywood film screened in Srinagar
Ever since the multiplex INOX Srinagar was opened in Kashmir last year, Tariq Bhat-directed 'Welcome to Kashmir', a Bollywood movie made with local talents, has become the fourth most-watched movie there so far.
AGRICULTURE
Kashmir farmers profit from the revival of Mushk Budij, aromatic rice cultivation
While demands for the aromatic crop has increased, and its cultivation, halted in 1984 and revived in 2014, growing Mushk Budij is risky owing to it being blast-prone and the milled rice cannot be stored for a long time since it loses its aroma.
BUSINESS
J&K’s logistics start-up FastBeetle raises at $3 million valuation in a Pre Series A round
Locally referred to as Beetles, FastBeetle Logistics has a strong network of warehouses and delivery centres across major districts of J&K, including recent expansion into the Union Territory of Ladakh.
ENVIRONMENT
World Environment Day 2023 | Strawberry farmers in Kashmir face losses as climate change eats into produce
Colder than usual months of April and May, and frequent rainfall crushed strawberry farmers' chances to harvest and sell the berries like they normally would.
INDIA
Kashmir buzzing with activity, brimming with guns to welcome G20 delegates
Visitors at Srinagar’s Sheikh-ul Alam International Airport are greeted by rows of lampposts illuminated in the green, white, and orange of the Indian flag, and colourful streets, even as the MARCOS, NSG, and SOG are deployed in strength to guard against threats from the land, air, and water.
TRAVEL
5 most romantic places to visit in the Kashmir Valley
The Kashmir Valley is one of the most romantic places in this part of the world. Here are five must-visit places in Kashmir for newlyweds searching for domestic honeymoon destinations or couples seeking a romantic getaway this summer.
BUSINESS
Kashmiri apples in summer: How cold stores are boosting J&K’s apple industry
Controlled-atmospheric (CA) storage in Jammu and Kashmir has come to the rescue of the struggling apple industry, reducing post-harvest losses and financial setbacks for the Valley's apple growers.
TRENDS
Of attars and how the alcohol-free aroma saturates the air in Kashmir during Ramzan
In Kashmir, demand for non-alcoholic perfumes increases during Ramzan. What you need to know about the origins of attar, the most popular fragrances and where to buy attar in Jammu & Kashmir.
