Gurez in the local Shina language, is a valley located in the high Himalayas, about 86 kilometres from Bandipore and 123 kilometres from Srinagar in northern Kashmir and southern Gilgit-Baltistan. At about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Dawar is the central township in the area. The population of the area is estimated to be about 30,000, and is scattered among fifteen villages. Due to heavy snowfall in winter, the valley remains cut off for six months of the year. Keeping in view the need for protected and offseason cultivation of vegetables which can be utilized in the winter period during which Gurez road remains completely closed, ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar constructed polyhouses at four different locations under TSP Scheme. During the winter period these polyhouses were used for vegetable production and raising of nursery seedlings. The low cost poly houses were made with PVC pipes covered with UV stabilized polythene sheets. Well decomposed and sieved farmyard manure in combination of FYM: sand: soil in ratio of 2:1:1 by volume was recommended as growing media for nursery raising and the same performed very well. Four locations viz Dawar, Markote, Wanpora and Mastan were selected for construction of low cost polyhouses and at all the four locations performance with respect to nursery raising and offseason vegetable production was significantly very good. Vegetables live kale, tomato, cucumber, bottle gourd, pumpkin, brinjil etc were successfully raised under protected conditions at Gurez. Since Gurez remains under snow cover till late May-June and therefore nursery raising and transplanting of vegetable seedlings is done in late summer which delays the cropping season. Therefore utilization of low cost polyhouses for nursery raising under protected cultivation will save time and increase the duration of vegetable availability in the region. Team Members: (Scientific: Dr Javid Iqbal Mir, Scientist, Prof. Nazeer Ahmed, Former Director, Dr D. B. Singh, Director/Acting, Dr OM Chand Sharma, Senior Scientist, Dr Anil Sharma, Senior Scientist, Dr. Geetika Malik, Scientist (Sr. Scale), Dr Waseem Raja, Scientist ; Technical & Supporting: Mr Ishtiyaq Ahmad Sheikh, Mehraj Ud Din Bhat, Ghulam Nabi Bhat)
Date Of Success Stories: 06 Oct 2023