Srinagar, August 17, 2025 – Kashmir’s almond industry is celebrating a bumper harvest this season, bringing significant income boosts to farmers across the region. The abundant yield, attributed to favorable weather conditions, has painted a vibrant picture in orchards, particularly in Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla. However, challenges such as erratic weather patterns, competition from low-cost imports, and shrinking farmland threaten the long-term sustainability of this vital sector.
This year’s almond harvest has been a boon for farmers, with ideal climatic conditions—mild summers, adequate rainfall, and a timely spring bloom—resulting in a yield surge. Kashmir, which accounts for over 90% of India’s almond production, saw orchards laden with high-quality, sweet-flavored almonds known for their high oil content. The labor-intensive harvest, involving manual shaking of trees and sun-drying of nuts, has turned into a community celebration, with women and children joining in the traditional process. Almonds, integral to Kashmiri cuisine and trade, are fetching better prices this season, boosting farmer incomes by an estimated 15-20% compared to last year. Despite the optimism, growers face significant hurdles.
Shrinking farmland is a pressing concern, with almond cultivation areas dropping from 16,418 hectares in 2011 to just 7,107 hectares today. Urbanization, rising property values, and a shift to higher-margin crops like apples have led to a 75% reduction in almond acreage since 2006. Farmers like Mohammad Altaf from Pulwama lament the lack of government support, noting that while apple cultivation benefits from subsidies and dedicated markets, almond growers are left to navigate fragmented, middleman-dominated sales channels.
Erratic weather patterns, exacerbated by climate change, pose another threat. Unseasonal rains and temperature fluctuations have previously damaged crops, and farmers fear future harvests may not be as fortunate. Additionally, competition from cheaper imported almonds, particularly from California, which holds an 80% global market share, depresses local prices. The absence of centralized dry fruit markets in Kashmir forces farmers to transport their produce to distant cities like Jammu or Delhi, increasing costs and reducing profits. To address these challenges, the government is promoting high-density almond cultivation to improve yields on limited land. Initiatives like rainwater harvesting and modern irrigation techniques are also gaining traction, with studies suggesting up to 50% higher yields in areas adopting these practices.
However, farmers call for more robust policy interventions, including dedicated almond markets, access to modern farming techniques, and protection against land conversion for infrastructure projects like roads and railways, which threaten orchards across Pulwama and Anantnag. As Kashmir’s almond harvest continues to be a cultural and economic cornerstone, stakeholders urge swift action to preserve this heritage industry. Without addressing shrinking farmland, weather uncertainties, and market inefficiencies, the region’s almond sector risks losing its luster despite this season’s success.
