Srinagar, Sept 05: The substantial export of walnuts from Californian, Chinese and Chile to the Indian markets has affected Kashmir’s walnut industry and its growers, Walnut Growers Association said on Tuesday.
According to growers’ observations over the past six years, the walnut production rates have not met their expectations, considering the significant effort and hard work invested by farmers leading up to the harvest.
President Kashmir Walnut Growers Association, Haji Bahadur Khan said there is a reduced demand of Kashmir walnuts in Indian markets. He said the government has slashed the import duty and GST has also affected the farmers and dealers.
“Walnuts exported from Californian, China and Chile look good. But the local produce is natural and farmers don’t even use pesticides and manure,” he said.
Khan alleged that the government has not been serious over the promotion and marketing of the walnut industry which could have further pushed farmers and their produce.
“The walnut farmers are worried. They spent more on harvesting crops and it is laborious. Whatever they do they do it on their own there is no government intervention,” he said.
The President said that there should be collaboration with walnut stakeholders in the national markets which can be helpful for the growers and farmers.
“There are 60 percent of the walnut farmers who live in peripheries or rural areas and they do not get the exact prices of the produce,” he said.
September is the peak season for harvest of walnuts in the valley and growers say there is low demand for the walnut due to the heavy exports of walnuts from the foreign countries.
He said the rates of walnut kernels have gone down by almost 50 percent this season. “One kilogram of walnut kernel which would sell at Rs 1200, sells at Rs 700 per kilogram. Likewise, the low-quality kernel would sell at Rs 300 per kilogram, at Rs 150,” he said.
Khan also said that the shelled walnuts also do not fetch the expected price in the market. He said the shelled walnuts are sold at just Rs 120-200 per kilogram.
Mohd Subhan, a farmer from Pattan said before ten years the villages would remain abuzz with the walnut businessmen but over the years they do not prefer to go to villages due to slashed prices.
“Our crop is natural and organic but despite that we do not get the expected prices. The harvesting stage is laborious and we hardly manage the expenses,” he said.
The farmer said due to low returns people still use traditional methods for walnut processing which is laborious and tiresome.
“There is a need for the intervention to boost this industry otherwise the day would not be far when the growers would shift to some other crop,” he said.
Joint Director Horticulture Department Kashmir, Zahoor Ahmad stated that the department has been actively dedicated to advancing the walnut industry, implementing various interventions in this endeavour.
“Under HADP, we will be importing Chandelier plant material which could be pruned as well. Thirty high-density plants can be planted in one kanal of land. Our traditional varieties are not grafted and walnuts do not match in size,” he said.
He also said that the department has introduced walnut nurseries in several parts of Kashmir where they would now grow grafted plant material.
“We are receiving applications from farmers and we will be distributing plant material from December this year,” he added.
