Srinagar, June 12 -- Srinagar- Despite intense heat and water shortages in some areas, Kashmir's annual paddy transplantation season, Thaejkaad, is underway in full swing as farmers rush to complete the process before the June 21 deadline.

Farmers across the Valley are working collectively to ensure timely transplantation, preserving a centuries-old agrarian tradition while confronting challenges posed by rising temperatures and shrinking water resources.

Thaejkaad, a key phase in Kashmir's agricultural calendar, begins after paddy saplings grown in nurseries are transplanted into prepared fields.

While the practice remains central to the Valley's farming heritage, experts warn that declining paddy acreage, water scarcity and land-use ...