Kashmir’s Almond Legacy Under Threat as Orchards Make Way For Apples

Once fondly remembered as the “land of almonds”, Kashmir is now witnessing a rapid decline in its almond orchards, as farmers increasingly cut down trees to plant high-density apple varieties or sell land for construction.

- Agencies

Growers fear that without timely intervention, the centuries-old almond heritage of the Valley could disappear altogether.

“This year's yield has been satisfactory, but the tragedy is that orchards are vanishing faster than ever,” said Muneer Ahmad, an orchardist from Pulwama. “Everywhere you look, land is being taken over either by apple plantations or new buildings. If this trend continues, almonds will soon vanish from Kashmir's landscape.”