Kashmir's Walnut Industry Faces Chinese Threat

The once-thriving walnut industry in Kashmir is facing a severe crisis as demand for its organic walnuts has sharply declined from 85% to just 30% over the past four years.

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Growers and traders are deeply concerned as sales have dropped drastically from 1.70 lakh metric tonnes in 2020 to a mere 30,000 metric tonnes in 2024. The primary reasons behind this decline include the influx of cheaper Chinese walnuts, inadequate processing facilities, and weak marketing strategies.

In local markets, Kashmiri organic walnuts are currently priced between Rs 700-800 per kilogram, while Chinese walnuts sell for nearly half the price at Rs 350-400 per kilogram.

This stark price difference is largely due to China’s mass production methods, which rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, allowing for large-scale exports at lower costs.