MLA Gulmarg Farooq Shah Inaugurates Mushroom Cultivation Unit and High-Tech Polyhouse in Gulmarg

In a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and rural employment in the region, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, inaugurated a Mushroom Cultivation Center at Rawanpora village and a High-Tech Polyhouse Unit at Duroo village under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), sponsored by the Agriculture Department.

The initiatives aim to promote sustainable farming practices and self-reliance among the rural youth. The mushroom unit, which requires an initial investment of only ₹3,000 by the grower, is primarily supported by the department and is projected to yield returns of up to ₹40,000 per cultivation cycle, significantly improving the livelihood of local farmers.

At Duroo, the high-tech polyhouse has been designed to enable year-round cultivation and increased crop productivity through modern farming techniques and climate control systems.

Farooq Ahmad Shah emphasized the need to make the Gulmarg constituency self-reliant in agriculture to boost income and create local employment opportunities in the area. He said that by adopting modern farming methods, the region can use its agricultural potential to grow economically. He also added that with the support from the government and active involvement of local people, especially farmers and youth, Gulmarg can become a strong example of rural development and self-sufficiency.

Later in the day, Shah, accompanied by Revenue officials visited Pinjoora village to console families affected by a recent fire incident that caused significant property loss. He assured the victims of all possible support and timely relief from the administration.