Kashmir’s apple orchards have powered the region’s economy for generations.
While most people saw only the problems, three young Kashmiris saw an opportunity. They decided to build something different — not just another farming app, but a complete operating system for temperate horticulture. That company is Orchardly.
The Problem Traditional Farming Could No Longer Solve Alone
Apple farming in Kashmir supports millions of livelihoods and contributes significantly to the region’s economy. Yet productivity has remained far below global averages. Growers often made critical decisions based on habit rather than real-time data. When to spray, how much fertiliser to apply, whether disease pressure was rising, or when to irrigate — these choices could make or break an entire season’s income.
Generic weather forecasts and outdated advice were no longer enough. Farmers needed farm-level intelligence that understood their specific orchards, soil conditions, and microclimates.
Orchardly was built to close exactly this gap.
The Founders and the Early Vision
Orchardly was founded by Ehsan Quddusi, Izhan Javeed, and Uzair Javeed.
Ehsan brought deep technology experience. Izhan specialised in supply chain and post-harvest management. Uzair focused on agronomy and pre-harvest practices. Their complementary strengths created a rare combination of tech capability and on-ground horticulture knowledge.
The idea began simply. Around 2021–2022, Izhan and Uzair started answering practical questions from apple growers on a WhatsApp group. As the number of farmers seeking advice grew, the informal system became difficult to manage. Ehsan’s technology background helped convert that community into a structured digital platform.
The Orchardly app launched in March 2022. More than 500 growers registered on the very first day through pure word of mouth. What started as free advice slowly evolved into a full ecosystem.
How Orchardly Works as an Operating System
Orchardly does not treat farming as a single problem. It builds layers of support around the grower.
The platform combines:
- Hyperlocal weather data from around 40 micro-weather stations across Kashmir
- AI-powered disease and pest prediction models
- Soil testing and precise nutrition recommendations
- Irrigation and fertigation advisories
- Physical stores for agricultural inputs
- Professional agronomy support and orchard management services
- QR-based traceability systems for sprays, fertilisers, and harvest records
- Work on genetics, nursery development, and market linkages
These stations have generated more than two million orchard data points covering weather, soil, crop stages, and field operations. Instead of giving generic alerts, the system delivers practical recommendations tailored to individual orchards.
Revenue, Growth and Business Model
Orchardly has remained fully bootstrapped and EBITDA-positive since inception — a rare achievement in the Indian startup landscape.
Key numbers shared by the company:
- FY2024-25: Approximately ₹15.26 crore revenue
- FY2025-26: Crossed ₹19 crore revenue (around 25% growth)
- Targeting further expansion in the coming financial year
Revenue initially came from agricultural inputs and has expanded into services, genetics work, and related offerings. The company currently engages more than 15,000 growers and covers roughly 13,500 acres of horticulture land.
Beyond apples, Orchardly also supports cherries, pears, and other temperate crops. Its traceability and quality systems contributed to enabling commercial exports of Kashmiri cherries to Singapore and Dubai.
Recognition and On-Ground Impact
In early 2026, Orchardly was named the Top Emerging Startup at the Jammu & Kashmir Startup Awards. The recognition came with a cash prize and certificate of excellence presented during the J&K Startup Mela.
What sets the company apart is not just technology. It is the combination of regional knowledge, long-term relationships with growers, and physical infrastructure that is difficult for competitors to replicate quickly.
The Road Ahead
Orchardly continues to expand its data infrastructure and service offerings while staying focused on temperate horticulture. The founders believe technology must make economic sense for farmers with small and medium landholdings. Their model of community weather stations, practical advisories, doorstep inputs, and export-oriented tools reflects that philosophy.
In a region where apples remain central to rural livelihoods, improving productivity, reducing unnecessary chemical use, and helping growers access better markets can create lasting impact. Orchardly’s journey shows how a locally rooted agritech company can grow from simple conversations with farmers into a profitable, multi-crore platform serving thousands of orchards across Kashmir.
About Marketing Mirrors
Marketing Mirrors is a fast-growing digital storytelling platform that showcases real-life success stories of Indian entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. Through their content, they highlight brands and individuals who’ve turned ideas into impact — inspiring thousands to chase their dreams.
