Jammu and Kashmir accounts for more than 95 per cent of India’s walnut production
Amid a host of challenges, farmers have begun harvesting walnuts in Kashmir, with growers and traders saying a good crop this year has done little to improve returns.Cultivators and traders blame cheaper imports, ageing trees and restrictions on replacing old walnut trees with high-density varieties for keeping prices under pressure.“This year production is good, but because of cheap imports from China, Chile, California and other countries, we are getting low prices,” said Ghulam Mohammad Shah, a farmer from Kupwara.Walnut productionJammu and Kashmir accounts for more than 95 per cent of India’s walnut production, with annual output of around 3.5 lakh tonnes, according to official data. About 89,000 hectares are under walnut cultivation in the union territory. India ranks eighth globally in walnut production.Anantnag is the valley’s largest walnut-producing district, with annual output of nearly 62,000 tonnes, followed by Pulwama and Kupwara at about 36,400 tonnes and 36,300 tonnes, respectively.Haji Bahadur Khan, president of the Dry Fruit Association of Kashmir, told businessline that the industry was under pressure from cheaper imports, including walnuts that he said were being smuggled into India through the Nepal border.“These walnuts are sold at dirt-cheap prices in Indian markets, driving down prices for locally produced walnuts,” Khan said.Ageing treesFarmers are also struggling with ageing walnut trees that occupy large tracts of land while producing lower yields, making it harder for small growers to earn adequate returns.They say restrictions on felling the trees prevent them from replacing ageing orchards with newer, higher-yielding varieties.Walnut trees in Kashmir are protected under the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, which requires government permission for their felling and restricts the cutting of healthy or fruit-bearing trees.Traditional walnut trees can take more than a decade to begin bearing fruit and require considerable space. High-density varieties, by contrast, can start producing within four to five years and can be planted closer together, potentially allowing farmers to obtain higher yields from smaller plots.“Traditional walnut orchards are largely unorganised and farmers have to wait for years before the trees start producing,” said Tariq Ahmad, a walnut grower from Anantnag.“Replacing old trees with faster-bearing, high-density varieties could help farmers with limited land to increase production and improve returns,” he said.No plans to lift restrictionsDespite growing calls from farmers to ease restrictions on felling walnut trees, the government has no immediate plans to relax the law.During the last Assembly session, the Omar Abdullah-led government opposed a private member’s bill introduced by ruling National Conference legislator Altaf Ahmad Kaloo seeking to amend the law and allow orchardists greater freedom to fell trees on their land.Abdullah defended the existing provisions, saying they were intended to protect walnut and chinar trees. He said the government could consider amendments if felling were made conditional on mandatory replanting, particularly of walnut trees.Published on September 3, 2026
