𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐢𝐫’𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

Pulwama, June 1 — In the quiet village of Pangroo in Kupwara district, farmer Hilal Ahmad Sheikh recently posted a video showing off his thriving onion harvest. The large, healthy bulbs sparked a wave of appreciation and questions across social media.

But this isn’t just about one farmer’s success — it’s part of a wider agricultural shift happening across Kashmir. At the heart of this transformation is Dr. Tahir Ahmad Tahir, an Agriculture Extension Officer from Beerwah, Budgam, whose scientific advice and digital outreach are revolutionizing farming practices across the Valley.

In his video, Hilal credited his success to avoiding outdated farming methods, such as trimming onion leaves, which hinders the plant’s ability to produce food. He also emphasized proper aeration and sunlight exposure, alongside correct fertilization using DAP.

A similar story unfolded in Hadipora, Baramulla, where farmer Shabeer Ahmad proudly displayed his garlic crop, grown on a small plot. Both Hilal and Shabeer attributed their success to Dr. Tahir’s expert guidance.

Dr. Tahir, who holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, has become a go-to advisor for countless farmers across Jammu and Kashmir. His hands-on support, along with his presence on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, makes him highly accessible to the farming community.

“I get about 50 calls a day,” Dr. Tahir shared with Rising Kashmir. “My phone starts ringing at 6 a.m. and doesn’t stop until late night. I try to give each farmer individual attention.”

His early foray into social media wasn’t easy, with some criticism along the way. But perseverance paid off — now his videos have thousands of followers. He’s uploaded more than 2,500 videos on Facebook and over 800 on YouTube, covering a broad range of topics like organic farming, pest control, vertical farming, and fertilizer usage. Each video is backed by expert consultations with SKUAST-Kashmir and the Agriculture Department.

Coming from a farming background — his father was a Chief Agriculture Officer — Dr. Tahir believes in science-based guidance. “Never take advice from pesticide or fertilizer dealers,” he cautions, stressing the need for professional consultation to avoid irreversible mistakes.

Dr. Tahir’s work has earned him widespread appreciation, including recognition from the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Kashmir.

Thanks to his efforts, farmers like Hilal and Shabeer are not just seeing better yields, but also gaining confidence and knowledge. Dr. Tahir’s outreach is growing into a movement, reshaping Kashmir’s agricultural landscape with more informed, resilient, and sustainable practices.