Pulwama, J & K : The annual almond harvesting season has commenced across the Karewa belt of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district bringing optimism among growers as they report a healthy crop and improved market prices this year.

The encouraging harvest has rekindled hopes for the revival of almond cultivation, once regarded as one of Kashmir’s most cherished and economically significant horticultural crops.

Farmers from Chandgam and several other villages in the Karewa areas said the current season has delivered a satisfactory yield, with better returns compared to previous years. They believe the favourable harvest has demonstrated that almond cultivation still holds immense potential if supported through modern farming practices and government intervention.

Despite this year’s positive outlook, growers expressed concern over the gradual decline of almond orchards across the district. They said that for decades, the Karewas of Pulwama were renowned for vast stretches of almond plantations, but repeated weather-related losses, declining productivity and inadequate institutional support forced many farmers to replace almonds with apple orchards.

The growers appealed to the Horticulture Department to formulate a dedicated policy for the promotion of high density almond plantations, similar to the initiatives undertaken for high-density apple cultivation.

According to them adopting improved almond varieties, scientific orchard management and modern cultivation techniques would significantly enhance production, improve farmers’ incomes and encourage young people to continue with traditional almond farming.

Local residents recalled that almond orchards once formed an integral part of Pulwama’s landscape and contributed substantially to the district’s horticultural economy. However, changing climatic conditions, irregular rainfall and diminishing yields gradually reduced the area under almond cultivation.

Farmers believe the promising harvest this season presents a valuable opportunity to restore the glory of Kashmir’s traditional almond industry.

They urged the government to extend technical guidance, quality planting material, financial assistance and awareness programmes to help revive almond cultivation across the Karewa belt and preserve this rich horticultural heritage for future generations.

Report By – Mudasir Maqbool