Nadru Ki Kheti: Know how Kashmiri farmers take out lotus cucumber by risking their lives in the icy lake

Nadru Ki Kheti: Nadru cultivation in Kashmir is the main source of livelihood of farmers in winter, which is grown with hard work in icy water and tastes amazing.

Have you ever eaten lotus cucumber vegetable? If not, then definitely taste it once. It is an important part of the food of the people of Kashmir in the winter season. The pink lotus blooming in the beautiful Dal Lake of Srinagar not only adds to its beauty, but it is also the main source of livelihood for the farmers of the area. The stem of this lotus, which is also called Nadru or Kamal Kakdi in the local language, is the means of livelihood of the farmers. But Nadru cultivation is not everyone’s cup of tea, the stems have to be taken out by getting into the icy water in a temperature of minus 10-12 degrees.

Where is Nadru cultivation done? (Where do Nadru Ki Kheti)

Lotus cucumber is known as Nadru in Kashmir and is an important part of the food here. It is especially eaten in winter. Nadru is mainly cultivated in Dal Lake and Anchar Lake in Srinagar and Manasbal Lake in Ganderbal district. Nadru is the main source of livelihood for many farmers of this area. Farmers take their Shikara and set out to the lake on the morning of the icy shivering winter to harvest Nadru.

Farmer Shabbir Ahmed, who harvests Nadru in Anchar Lake, says that when he did not get a job after studies, he started harvesting Nadru, his father and grandfather used to cultivate Nadru (Nadru Ki Kheti) and since 2007, he has also been harvesting Nadru along with his maternal uncle. He says that Nadru is the staple food of Kashmiri Pandits.

Uses of Nadru Ki Kheti

Nadru, that is, lotus cucumber, is used in the traditional cuisine of Kashmir. Different types of dishes are made from it in different parts of the country. Its chutney, vegetable as well as soup are also made. Also, it is rich in nutrients, so it is also used in medicinal form. Lotus cucumber is an important part of Kashmiri culture. Here, especially on the occasion of festivals, dishes of Nadru are made.

Nadru cultivation is extremely difficult

As good as the taste of lotus cucumber is, its cultivation (Nadru Ki Kheti) is equally difficult. Farmer Shabbir Ahmed says that this work is not possible for everyone, because it is very difficult to get into the icy lake in a temperature of minus 10-14 degrees and find the ready stem of Nadru and cut it. Due to cold, hands and feet become numb. They say that they wear waterproof jackets before getting into the water over several layers of clothes.

Nadru Ki Kheti – it is not work but art

Nadru harvesting is not an ordinary job, but it is an art. Because farmers find out the stems of nadru with their feet inside the frozen water of the lake whether it is ready or not, only the ready stems are cut. After cutting, the stems are carefully collected and bundled. Each bundle contains 15-16 nadru.

Nadru Ki Kheti – A treasure of taste and health

It will not be wrong to call lotus cucumber a treasure of health, it does not contain cholesterol and sugar at all. It is rich in vitamin-C, potassium, carbohydrates, fiber, antioxidants which are helpful in keeping the body away from many health problems. Inflammation in the body can also be reduced by consuming Nadru, and it also brightens the skin. Farmer Shabbir Ahmed says that Nadru is a medicine for many diseases. It should also be consumed in asthma and gout. He says that doctors recommend eating Nadru vegetable and greens.

Nadru Cultivation – Price

The price of Nadru depends on its quality. It is sold from 100 to 500 rupees per kg. The lotus cucumber found in Dal Lake is of excellent quality, so it is sold up to 500 rupees per kg. Shabbir Ahmed says that Nadru is sold in his area for 160-170 rupees per kg. Nadru is harvested between September and March. It is removed from water, cleaned, made into bundles and sold immediately. The specialty of lotus is that once the seeds are sown, its crop is available for years.

In today’s time when machines are being used everywhere in farming, no machine has been made yet for harvesting lotus cucumber. Therefore, farmers have to go into water in shivering cold to harvest it in very difficult conditions.

Lotus cucumber producing states

Most of the lotus cucumber is grown in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, lotus is cultivated in almost all the states of India, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand have more lotus cultivation.

Cost of farming in Nadru Ki Kheti

The cost of cultivation of lotus cucumber is not high. Its cultivation in one acre costs about Rs 30,000. And in just 3 months, farmers can earn 60 to 70 thousand from its cultivation. In this way, farmers can earn 2 lakhs annually by cultivating it in one acre. As far as its yield is concerned, about 60 quintals of lotus cucumber can be produced in one acre. 

In such a situation, even if the lotus cucumber is sold at the rate of Rs 100 per kg, there can be good income. Apart from the lotus cucumber, the rest of the parts of the lotus such as the seed, which is also called Kamal Gatta, are also in great demand in the market, because it is used in worship. From the lotus flower to the seed and stem, every part of it is useful, due to which its cultivation is considered very profitable.

Suitable climate for Nadru cultivation

The Nadru plant is a marsh plant. Its specialty is that it grows easily even in low oxygen soil. Slow flowing or stagnant water is required for this. Nadru seeds germinate well even at 20 degrees temperature. Whereas 25 to 30 degrees temperature is good for the growth of the plant. Nadru cultivation (Nadru Ki Kheti) is done in water, but if black soil is spread under the water, the seeds will germinate quickly and farmers will get more yield.