Steep fall in walnut production

Kashmir has registered steep decline in walnut production this season. The growers blame the incessant rains followed by floods in September for the drop in the production.
The growers said at many places in the Valley, the walnut crop could not be harvested at the ripe time due to rains, which resulted in the falling of the fruit from the trees. “In some walnut producing areas the landslides washed away trees resulting in their permanent losses,” they added.
“Earlier in this year, hailstorm and rains had already affected the crop, but the dip in the mercury and the incessant downpour were the final nail in its coffin as a vast area comprising walnut orchards was washed away by floods,” Muhammad Younis, a walnut dealer said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director Horticulture, PK Sharma said: “We are assessing the losses caused to the walnut production. Our preliminary assessment has shown that large walnut orchards have been washed away by the floodwaters and landslides in the hilly areas of Uri and other areas.”
Sharma said, “Walnut forms important constituent of our foreign exchange earning sectors. However, this year the production remained low as compared to previous years.”
Walnut is the second fruit, first being the apple, grown in Kashmir on a large scale. According to economic survey, 95,620 hectares constituting 26.86 percent of the overall area under fruit, comprise of walnut orchards.
Horticulture gets considerable foreign exchange for Jammu and Kashmir. During 2012-13, the state exported 5476.08 metric ton dry fruit— almond and walnut both in shell and kernel— and earned foreign exchange of Rs 204.75 crore.
The walnut cultivation has mostly remained synonymous with Jammu and Kashmir in India. In other Himalayan states, walnut has not seen much growth.
According to a survey, 90 percent of the total walnut demand in the country is being met by Kashmir only. The annual production is 36,000 metric ton in the country.
However, while the dip in production has resulted in production loss, the price of kernels on Indian market has improved considerably.
Exporter, Noor-ud-Din Azad said the prices shot up mainly for two reasons. “One, the walnut yield this year remained low in Kashmir because of incessant rains. So the supply in the Indian markets has dwindled, which has resulted in the increase in the prices. Two, the demand has picked up ahead of the festival season such as Diwali.”