Srinagar, Oct. 30 -- Horticulture is one of the main pillars of Jammu and Kashmir's economy and contributes majorly to the union territory's agricultural output. However, despite the expansion of cultivation and improvements in farming practices, the sector still faces a major challenge: productivity remains below the national average. This gap highlights the need to shift the focus from expanding acreage to improving yields, quality and value addition. In 2025-26, Jammu and Kashmir had 4.2989 lakh hectares under horticulture crops, with estimated production of 40.35 lakh metric tonnes. Average productivity stood at 9.39 tonnes per hectare, against the national average of 12.53 tonnes. The difference of 3.14 tonnes per hectare is signific...