Despite bumper walnut crop, rates slump

Baramulla, October 08: The traders in Kashmir’s historic and oldest walnut market Lagama in the border town of Uri are facing losses due to the decrease in rates and flow of walnut kernels from the international market.
For more than a century, Uri has boasted about the Lagama market, where the best walnut kernels in India are sold. However, despite a bumper crop this year from far-flung areas along the Line of Control, the market’s vendors complain that prices have fallen due to poor demand and a lack of government attention.
The sellers claimed that, particularly around Diwali, walnuts from Uri are shipped to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. However, the traders are unable to send the produce because of the rate decline.
“This trade suffered from falling rates, weak demand, and a lack of government attention. We used to work really hard and put a lot of effort into it, but nothing came of it,” claimed Mohammad Ashraf Chalkoo, a walnut seller in Lagama.
Although Lagama is the valley’s oldest and historic walnut market, recent declines in prices and kernel demand have caused traders to worry that the market may close down.
“The previous several years have seen a decline in both rates and demand. This historic market will fall at any time,” Ashraf said explicitly.
Another trader Shafiq Ahmad Wani from Uri said that one kilogram of walnut kernel is being sold at Rs 650-700 which was earlier sold at Rs 1300 per kilogram.
“To prevent the closure of this ancient market, the administration of the Union Territory must take action. Even paying the labourers is impossible with the prices we are receiving. In 2014, we were able to sell a kilogramme of walnut kernels for between Rs 1300 and Rs 1400. Prices have now been cut in half,” he continued.
Ashraf alone often exports 5000 to 6000 kilogrammes of walnut kernels each year.
The traders claimed that the government is importing walnut kernels from places like Afghanistan, China, Chile, and California, which has a negative impact on the Kashmiri walnut industry.
They said that the central government is actually encouraging foreign kernels, and the situation is so bad that people from Indian states aren’t even purchasing Kashmiri kernels.
In Lagama, there are about 70 local vendors and 34 wholesalers. The Lagama market offers a variety of kernel types, including snow white, regular white, sharbati, and amber. The most expensive of all is the snow white.
“We have no other income, and our business is the only source of our living. In order to boost the kernels from the local market rather than the international market, the UT administration needs to look into it,” said Bashir Ahmad Khawaja, another trader.
One of the organic fruits growing in Kashmir, particularly in the countryside, is walnut. Despite having good productivity, it is the state’s least organised sector.
“Traders in Delhi always set the prices for kernels. They purchase from us for a few pennies, export the product, and profit handsomely,” Khawaja added. .
The traders appealed to UT Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and the horticulture department to look into the matter and take necessary actions for stabilizing the business.