Gardening fascinating youth of Jammu and Kashmir amid COVID-19 pandemic 

It is developing as a hobby among youth especially at a time when most of them are staying home due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Shahid Bhat, entrepreneur-cum-floriculturist from Srinagar, told ANI: "It is an emerging trend in Kashmir. Before there were flower exhibitions in Kashmir, but now the demand has increased and people are demanding rare plants and are willing to buy flowers ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 1 lakh. More people are entering this profession."

He had joined his family's floriculture business after completing his class 10 studies.

“This business is trending these days. This year, around 75 per cent of new small-scale nurseries opened in the market,” he said, adding that his business is still growing despite competition.

“People have now developed an interest in planting flowers. Youths are building their interest to plant flowers. We used to wait for a year to let the flower bloom. But now we have a lot of hybrids. I import flowers from across the nation and other countries also,” he told ANI.

He said the younger generation are fasciated by gardening.

 "Before only the older generation was engaged in this task. We are buying beautiful hybrid flowers and other plants used to decorate homes,” said Faisal Ahmad, a customer.