SRINAGAR: The foremost ‘farmer’ who introduced the Kiwi fruit cultivation in Kashmir is no more. Bashir Ahmad War breathed his last Sunday night at his home. He was almost 70.
Family sources said he had contracted a lung infection last week. He was being driven to the hospital where he passed away. Doctors declared him brought dead.
War, a resident of Warpora Sopore, was a law graduate from Aligarh Muslim University. He was a member of the Horticulture Board. Most of the time, he would remain busy with the fruit business and his own apple orchards.
He spent last three years in raising a Kiwi Fruit orchard near his home. He had brought the saplings from Himachal Pradesh. He made it possible and started cultivating the fruit on a commercial basis with the least inputs, unlike apple.
Family sources said he is being laid to rest on Monday. His funeral prayers are tentatively scheduled for 10 am.
War is survived by three daughters and two sons. One of his sons is flying home after he heard the news of his father’s demise.
Though he had only 5 kanal Kiwi orchard, he intended to extended it to 25 kanals in 2023. However, fate had decided otherwise.
