“Capturing the Beauty of Kashmir’s Paddy Harvesting Season in Pictures”

Rice cultivation is deeply interwoven with the rich cultural heritage of the Kashmir Valley. This vital crop thrives in an ecologically sustainable environment, benefiting from 100% irrigation sourced from the melting snow in the region. Across all districts of the valley, rice is not only a dietary staple but also the primary source of calories, surpassing wheat and maize in significance.

(Pics by Zargar Zahoor )

As the autumn season approaches, it ushers in the paddy harvesting period in Kashmir, an annual event that yields thousands of tonnes of rice. Notably, rice is the most extensively cultivated crop in the Jammu and Kashmir State. What distinguishes rice is its remarkable adaptability to different seasons, flourishing best during the warm summer months.

In the higher mountainous altitudes where temperatures remain moderate even in summer, the rice growing season extends, resulting in delayed ripening and harvesting. The versatility of rice cultivation extends to the diversity of soils it can thrive in, making it a crop suited for nearly any soil type. This adaptability underscores its importance as a staple food and a cornerstone of agriculture in the region.