Bhaderwah, Aug. 1 -- The once poverty-stricken villages of Bharova, Khalo, and Shanatra in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhaderwah, long affected by recurring droughts, are now emerging as shining examples of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) through their remarkable success in horticulture, especially the cultivation of exotic Italian pears. Their annual production is nearing an impressive 1.5 metric tons.

Unlike many parts of the hilly Chenab region, where farmers traditionally grow maize, paddy, and fodder for cattle as primary crops, these villages have placed horticulture on an equal footing with farming, turning it into a viable and profitable livelihood.

This transformation began two decades ago with Haji Mohd Shafi Sheikh (78) of ...