Despite a promising bumper crop this year, Kashmir’s almond growers find themselves staring at yet another season of losses. What should have been a reason for celebration has turned into despair, as long-standing issues-lack of Government support, outdated practices, and missing market infrastructure-continue to plague this once-thriving sector. The shrinking area from 16,418 hectares in 2011 to just 7,107 hectares today-the fall is not coincidental; it signals deep-rooted policy failures and the urgent need for reform. Almond growers across Pulwama, Budgam, and other regions have consistently voiced concerns about missing institutional support. While apple cultivation has seen significant Government intervention through schemes, subsidies, and dedicated marketplaces, almond farmers have been left in the lurch. The absence of a centralised dry fruit mandi in Kashmir forces them to sell produce in far-off cities like Jammu or Delhi, often at unfavourable prices. This not only increases the cost burden on farmers but also delays sales, leading to prolonged storage and deterioration in quality.
In today’s globalised and competitive agricultural economy, sticking to traditional varieties without innovation spells doom. Unfortunately, most growers in Kashmir still cultivate old almond strains without any scientific upgrades or guidance. The Horticulture Department must shoulder responsibility for this lapse. A complete absence of training, expert support, or dissemination of modern farming techniques has left the sector stagnant. Farmers lack access to cold storage facilities, proper packaging systems, and even basic knowledge about international demand trends.
With the railway now connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, logistical hurdles can easily be overcome. Jammu already houses several dry fruit sorting and export facilities. These centres can play a critical role in educating about global quality standards and market preferences. But this requires coordinated policy-level action. A strategic partnership between Government departments, grower cooperatives, and private exporters is essential. Establishing well-equipped almond mandis in Kashmir and Jammu, supported by storage and transportation infrastructure, is a necessity. The Government must act decisively to extend the same benefits and attention to almond growers that apple cultivators receive. What is at stake is the livelihood of thousands of families and the preservation of a rich horticultural tradition.
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