Srinagar- Looking across the rows of vibrant flowers in the greenhouse, Chief Scientist and Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-Kashmir, Dr. Neelofar Banday, takes a deep breath. “You see, choosing floriculture and landscaping as a career came with its own set of challenges. Women in Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are still underrepresented, and their numbers dwindle even further in leadership positions. Naturally, I had to overcome many barriers to get here.”
The youngest of four sisters, Neelofar grew up in the traditional and conservative setting of the old city. However, she was always determined to make unconventional choices, often challenging societal norms. Active in sports and an exceptional student, she completed her primary and secondary education at a government school before pursuing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agriculture. She later earned a Ph.D. in Floriculture and Landscaping from SKUAST-Kashmir.
Neelofar credits her father as the driving force behind her decision to pursue agricultural science. “My father was my greatest source of inspiration,” she said. “From high school, he encouraged me to study science, always reminding me that women hold up half the sky and can contribute equally to STEM.”
Her research focused on the “programming of tulip bulbs”— a process that refers to the process of planting them in the fall to ensure they bloom in the spring; this involves choosing the right time, location, and planting depth.
“Tulips bloom in Delhi as well, but the bulbs don’t form there because the temperature is not suitable. The ones that bloom in Delhi are already programmed. Tulip bulbs require a chilling period of 2 to 2.5 months, which naturally occurs in temperate climate of Europe and Kashmir. We artificially provided this chilling temperature to tulip bulbs in August, allowing them to be cultivated outside Kashmir while still ensuring proper blooming,” the scientist explained.
Neelofar’s journey, however, has been long and demanding. Throughout her research, she has had to challenge age-old stereotypes that question women’s ability to engage in science while balancing career aspirations with family commitments. Taking the road less travelled, she rose to become a professor, Chief Editor of the SKUAST Journal of Research, and currently serves as the Dean Faculty of Horticulture at SKUAST-K, Shalimar.
As a floriculture scientist, she has guided 20 to 30 Ph.D. students, whose research has covered a variety of crops, including summer annual flowers and herbaceous perennials. While summer annual plants complete their life cycle within a single warm season, herbaceous perennials die back each year but regrow from their roots.
Beyond mentoring, she has worked extensively on tissue culture propagation of lilium, standardization of production technology for various flowers, and post-harvest techniques to improve flower longevity for consumers. She has also contributed valuable insights to the Tulip Garden, Srinagar, advising on blooming periods, disease control, and optimal timings for opening the garden to visitors.
Neelofar has authored more than 90 research papers in prestigious national and international journals, including the Indian Journal of Horticulture, Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Journal of Ornamental Horticulture, Saudi Journal of Biological Research, and Applied Biological Research, among others.
Despite her many achievements, Neelofar has witnessed the stress and exhaustion that researchers endure. To support students facing anxiety related to research, she initiated a mental health awareness program. In collaboration with the Kashmiri American Society for Healthcare, Education & Medical Research, she helped establish a mental health counselling cell at the campus. “The goal is to protect and promote mental well-being, creating a supportive environment where students can thrive both intellectually and emotionally,” she said.
Neelofar also highlighted the rapid evolution of the floriculture industry in Kashmir, where entrepreneurs and investors now generate revenues in crores. “One of the biggest advantages of floriculture is the high income per unit area. For instance, a rice crop may yield 4,000 to 10,000 rupees per Kanal, whereas floriculture can generate earnings in lakhs within the same space. Since it is an intensive form of agriculture, it can even be practiced in home corridors or small spaces,” she noted.
Her advice to young women entering agricultural sciences is simple yet powerful: believe in your potential, embrace challenges, and never hesitate to carve your own path.
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