NEELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): The land of Neelum is naturally fertile, with the potential to yield abundant crops through hard work and proper agricultural practices. Yet it suffers, Neelum’s agricultural growth gets hindered by lack of irrigation and government assistance.
The valley produces high-quality potatoes, buckwheat, walnuts, maize, cherries, and a variety of wild and cultivated vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants, many of which make their way to national and international markets.
The enormous agricultural potential in Neelum Valley is held back because farmers lack support from the government, technical assistance and irrigation infrastructure. Farmers face severe agricultural limitations due to the absence of water reservoirs and high-value irrigation tools such as irrigation channels and small dams because they depend on rainfall. Insufficient irrigation causes crops to yield inconsistently, which results in reduced farm income together with decreased regional agricultural production.
Farmers in Neelum and all of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) experience multiple barriers from using outdated practices and having restricted tool availability to no government financial aid programs. The land in this valley possesses the potential to grow high-value agriculture but insufficient investment toward irrigation systems and agricultural development prevents its advancement. Under optimal support, Neelum would not only preserve its farm workers but would simultaneously boost food security while promoting regional economic development.
The government should strengthen the Irrigation and Small Dams Department and the Agriculture Department in agricultural development to benefit 30 per cent of Neelum’s residents. The region will enhance community income while creating job opportunities and solving nutritional problems through the distribution of important supplies and agricultural training along with irrigation infrastructure.
The local professionals operating in agriculture jointly with community farmers demand governmental implementation of sustainable irrigation techniques alongside supportive policies for farmers. Proper investments in Neelum’s land territory would transform it into a food production centre that would enhance both national and regional food supply networks.
Neelum’s fertile land produces high-value crops like potatoes, walnuts, and cherries, but on Sunday, local farmers highlighted the lack of government support, including irrigation infrastructure and technical assistance, as a major barrier to agricultural growth.
The fertile ground of the valley still maintains its hidden agricultural potential while waiting for proper government interventions to become an active agricultural centre.
