By Syed Shamsuddin Earlier today, I came across an inspiring Facebook post by Shoaib Reel , beautifully portraying the Himalayan Monal — a living embodiment of nature’s artistry that graces the northern valleys of Pakistan. His vivid depiction of this dazzling bird, found amid snow-clad mountains and fragrant deodar forests, truly captured the spirit of our northern wilderness. When sunlight touches its feathers, it seems as though a rainbow has descended upon the earth . The male Monal glows in a spectacular array of metallic blue, green, gold, orange, and violet hues, while the female, clothed in soft brown shades, adds a gentle calmness to the beauty of nature. Typically, this radiant bird inhabits the alpine forests of Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza, Naltar, Dir, and parts of Azad Kashmir . At dawn, it quietly forages for seeds, roots, fruits, and insects; and in the harshness of winter, when the mountains don a white mantle, the Monal...
Optimising Small-Space Viticulture: Dwarf Grape Plantations and Climate-Matched Cultivars for Gilgit-Baltistan
By Syed Shamsuddin Dwarf Grape Plantations in Gilgit-Baltistan — Why They Matter (and Which Grapes Work Best in a Similar Climate) Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), a land of soaring peaks and breathtaking valleys, faces a critical agricultural challenge — extreme scarcity of arable land. Studies and land-use surveys indicate that barely 1–2% of its total area is cultivable, with most households managing landholdings smaller than a hectare. This acute land limitation renders every terrace, courtyard, and flat patch of soil immensely valuable for food production and household income. In such a landscape, the concept of dwarf grape plantations emerges as a practical, innovative, and climate-compatible response to GB’s constraints — combining compact, high-density, and vertically efficient viticulture techniques to turn even the tiniest spaces into productive vineyards. Why Dwarf-Grape Systems Suit Gilgit-Baltistan 1. Maximizing Productiv...