Nadru Farming: J&K Govt Plans to Boost 'Floating Jewels' in Dal Lake

The FPO, comprising 250 farmers from the Dal interiors, made a mark in the global market by sending two consignments to the UAE, with the backing of new-found support.

This FPO was formed in response to the government's commitment to empowering farmers to sell and promote their products in prospective national and international markets. This crucial J&K government programme was recently addressed in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address to the country, 'Mann Ki Baat'.

In the 99th episode of his Mann Ki Baat show, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country about Kashmir's Dal Lake, which is famous for its delectable Lotus stems. "Lotus stems are known as Nadru in Kashmir, and demand for Nadru is constantly increasing," he explained. "As a result, farmers farming Nadru in Dal Lake have organised an FPO with the backing of the Srinagar district administration."

The Prime Minister was pleased that these farmers had lately shipped two consignments to the UAE, claiming that their success had enhanced the income of hundreds of farmers. The Kashmiri Lotus stem, also known as Nadru and made from the roots of the lotus flower, is a delicacy found on every Kashmiri table. The lotus stem is grown in several Kashmir valley lakes, the most important of which is Srinagar's Dal Lake.

Farmers in the Dal Lake area frequently complained that the price they received for their harvest was insufficient due to a lack of market linkages for their produce and the farmers' meagre individual produce. Given the peculiarity of Nadru (Lotus Stem) as a delicacy, the district administration of Srinagar met with the entrepreneurial farmers and approved the FPO in December 2022 after drafting a blueprint. NABARD is assisting the FPO through the "Central Sector Program for the Formation of FPOs."

The FPO was incorporated as 'Dal Lake Lotus Stem Farmers Producer Company Ltd' under the Companies Act. In a short period of time, the FPO has organized a total of 250 shareholders in Hazratbal's Dal lake area. The FPO has also registered a company-owned registered Nadru brand for the selling of hygienically sourced and high-quality Nadru (Lotus stem).

The FPO, which has an office in the Hazratbal area of the Srinagar district, is also developing its operations in value addition/primary/secondary processing by establishing Nadru value addition units in the area. The FPO was recently able to export two consignments of Nadru to the UAE with the assistance of the Department of Agricultural Kashmir, garnering a very high price for the producers, according to an official.

According to the official, the FPO programme is an institutional framework to lower production costs, raise per-unit production, and promote better market linkage in order to increase farmers' revenue. He stated that FPOs such as 'Dal Lake Lotus Stem Farmers Producer Company Ltd' will be promoted in the district in the coming days to enable greater backward and forward integration in the selling of agriculture and horticulture produce.