Kashmir’s Walnut Industry Gets a Boost After India Ends Trade Ties with Pakistan

Kashmir, May 29 (KNN) India’s decision to sever trade ties with Pakistan has brought unexpected relief to Jammu and Kashmir’s struggling walnut industry.

On May 2, the Central government imposed a blanket ban on imports from Pakistan, shutting down the Attari-Wagah trade route.

This move halted the entry of Afghan dry fruits, including walnuts, which had been entering India via Pakistan.

While the ban disrupted cross-border trade, it offered a silver lining for Kashmiri walnut farmers. “Earlier, the market was flooded with cheaper Afghan walnuts, which pulled down prices for local produce,” said Haji Bahadur Khan, president of the Kashmir Walnut Growers Association. “Now, demand for local walnuts has picked up, and prices have risen by 15 to 20 percent.”

Khan highlighted that Kashmiri farmers have long struggled due to competition from imports, especially from Afghanistan, California, China, and Chile. India imported nearly 1.9 million kilograms of Afghan walnuts in 2023, valued at USD 9.59 million.

Years of low demand and poor returns have forced many farmers to abandon walnut cultivation, with the area under walnut farming shrinking steadily since 2017.

Exports have also declined, dipping from 2.78 lakh metric tonnes in 2018–19 to 2.67 lakh metric tonnes in 2021–22.

Jammu and Kashmir accounts for 90 per cent of India’s walnut production, and the produce is entirely organic, thanks to generations of chemical-free farming practices.

“Despite our quality, we lack government support and cannot compete with cheaper imports,” Khan said. “The closure of the trade route has brought temporary relief, but long-term policy support is essential.”

(KNN Bureau)