Anantnag, May 26 -- Hazelnut cultivation is rapidly gaining ground in the high-altitude villages of Kokernag in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, driven by promising market returns and expanding demand.

Around 200 kanals of land have been brought under cultivation, with about 3,500 plants thriving at the government-run farm in Lehenwan.

Locally known as virin, hazelnuts are a valuable yet underutilized nut variety in Kashmir's horticultural landscape. They grow on hazel trees (genus Corylus) and thrive in cooler, temperate climates-conditions well-suited to Kashmir's mountainous regions. While less common than walnuts or almonds, wild hazelnut trees are found in areas like Kupwara and Baramulla.

According to the news agency-Kashmir Ne...