Kupwara, Nov 6: Hatchmarg, the picturesque village nestled in the hills of Kupwara has become a symbol of agricultural transformation in the region. Located 25 kilometers from district headquarters Kupwara, Hatchmarg has developed a unique identity and is popularly known as ‘tomato village of Kupwara’.

In Hatchmarg, farmers few decades ago used to rely largely on traditional crops such as maize and vegetables grown for household use. The idea of tomato cultivation was almost unfamiliar to them but with time, curiosity, experimentation, and determination the scenario altogether changed and consequently the village began to grow the crop on large scale.

It all started in 2001, when a few progressive farmers experimented with hybrid tomato varieties. “Our success inspired others to shift fr

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