In the high-altitude region of Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, Sunil has pioneered a remarkable transformation in agriculture through his innovative and sustainable practices. Recognising the dangers and inefficiencies of traditional walnut farming—where trees often grow as high as 70 feet—he developed a grafted variety called S1 Walnut by mastering bud grafting techniques under specific temperature and humidity conditions. This not only brought down the height of walnut trees to a manageable 25–30 feet but also achieved a 98% grafting success rate, ensuring uniform quality and safety during harvest. Sunil extended his efforts to a wide variety of crops including hazelnuts, pecan nuts, kiwis, grapes, apricots, and persimmons, all grown sustainably using local mother plants. He also redesigned polyhouse structures to withstand Kishtwar’s heavy snowfall, enabling farmers to continue cultivation through harsh winters. Today, his S1 walnuts have reached global markets, with samples already sent to the U.S., symbolising the world-class potential of Kishtwar’s produce.
