While cheaper imported walnuts from countries such as China, Turkey and the US are causing alarm among the growers, the apple industry, which is the economic lifeline of Kashmir, is also being adversely affected by foreign imports. A report by Riaz Wani
Cheaper imported walnuts from countries such as China, Turkey, and the United States are threatening the produce in Kashmir and causing alarm among traders who want the government to step in.
Walnuts cultivated in Kashmir are more expensive to produce due to various factors, such as the high cost of labour and a lack of irrigation facilities. The cost disparity has thus allowed cheaper foreign imports to corner the Indian market, to the detriment of the produce in J&K.
“The core issue lies in the price differential between Kashmiri walnuts and those from other countries,” said Haji Bahadur Khan, President of the Kashmir Walnut Growers Association, who expressed concern about the declining demand for Kashmir walnuts in Indian markets, attributing it to government actions. “The government has slashed the import duty, and GST has also affected the farmers and dealers.”
Khan, however, emphasized the superior quality of local Kashmiri walnuts, highlighting that they are naturally grown without the use of pesticides or manure. He criticized the preference for walnuts imported from California, China, and Chile, despite their foreign origin.
“The walnut farmers are worried. They spend more on harvesting crops, and it is a laborious process,” Khan said, while lamenting the decreasing rates for the crop. “One kilogram of walnut kernel which would sell at Rs 1200, sells at Rs 700 per kilogram now. Likewise, the low-quality kernel would sell at Rs 300 per kilogram, at Rs 150.”
Another major hurdle for Kashmiri walnuts is their lack of organic certification, unlike their foreign competitors. This absence of certification limits their export potential, especially to markets such as the European Union, thus undermining the industry’s global competitiveness.
Upsetting the apple cart
The issue is not confined to walnuts alone. The apple industry, which is the economic lifeline of Kashmir, is also being adversely affected by foreign imports. In July, the import duty on Washington apples was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, delivering a big blow to local apple growers and traders.
Apple cultivation provides employment to millions of people. Approximately five lakh families, equivalent to around 25 lakh individuals, in the state depend on horticulture, with apples covering about 40 percent of the total fruit-growing area and contributing to a staggering 90 percent of the total fruit production.
