Organic farming in Rajouri’s Sunderbani turns border region into economic hub
Rising demand for chemical-free produce continues to boost farmers’ incomes
In a major shift toward sustainable agriculture, residents of the Sunderbani area in Rajouri district have embraced organic farming, transforming it into both an environmental success and a powerful economic driver for this border region.
District Agriculture Officer Rajouri, Rajesh Verma, highlighted the government’s efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices through various schemes.
“We are focusing more on sustainable and organic agriculture. A scheme has been introduced to promote natural farming. Organic farming clusters have been identified and are being developed. There is a huge demand for organic products in the market, and the government is actively encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming,” Verma said.
Local farmers shared their experiences, underscoring both the challenges and rewards of this transition. Meenu, a farmer from the area, described her daily work on the farm. “We grow organic vegetables such as cauliflower, radish, and other seasonal crops. Our yield depends on our hard work. This farming is our only source of income, and our entire family contributes to the work,” she said.
Ajay Gupta, President of the Fruit and Vegetable Association in Sunderbani, highlighted the region’s long-standing agricultural tradition and its impact on livelihoods.
“The agricultural produce is of high quality. Sunderbani is a major mandi, supplying vegetables to many far-flung areas of the district. Thousands of people are directly engaged in farming,” Gupta stated.
Echoing similar sentiments, farmer Mintu Sharma pointed to the diversification of crops and expanded market reach. “We now grow cauliflower and other seasonal vegetables and supply them to distant areas as well. Earlier, we only cultivated food grains, but vegetable farming has improved our income. Farming is our sole livelihood, and people here work extremely hard,” Sharma said.
The shift toward organic farming is proving beneficial for both the environment and the local economy, as rising demand for chemical-free produce continues to boost farmers’ incomes and strengthen Rajouri’s agricultural sector.
