Walnut Industry in Jammu and Kashmir: A Geographical Analysis

 

Dr. Mohammad Taufique¹, Vajahat Khursheed²

¹Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, A.M.U., Aligarh, (U.P) India.

²Junior Research Fellow, Department of Geography, A.M.U., Aligarh, (U.P) India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Walnut occupies an important position in the horticulture industry of Jammu and Kashmir. It has the monopoly of producing excellent quality of walnuts contributing more than 90 per cent of Indian walnut production. The temperate climatic conditions favour its cultivation and offer Jammu and Kashmir an exceptional edge to super pass the other states in terms of walnuts. In this research paper, an attempt has been made to find out spatio- temporal analysis of walnut production and to estimate economic advantage of this dry fruit. It has been observed that all the districts of the state produce the walnut except the Jammu and Samba. Further, it has been found that Jammu division recorded 15.21 per cent of growth in the area and 267.92 per cent growth in production. The foreign exchange earnings at the same time recorded an overall change of -89.45 per cent there are several limitations which encompass the walnut industry. Therefore it is an urgent need to save this dry fruit by involving people across all sections and by putting in place the all supportive measures.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is economically important tree species, highly valued for its timber and edible nuts (Pollegioni et al., 2017).Walnut has the age of hundreds of years and it grows up to the height of 25 to 30 meters. Native to Central Asia, Mediterranean climate with cold winters and mild summers is most suitable for this dry fruit. A walnut tree is harvestable after 4 to 6 years and reaches its full productivity by 11 or12 years of age (Simpson, 2016). Rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin A and a perfect source of Omega 3 is considered best for the human brain. Walnut kernels are used for bakery and confectionaries, whereas oil is also extracted from this dry fruit. Walnut is the most commonly grown nut which tremendously possessed the most essential place in the horticulture sector of India.

 

The agro-climatic conditions of the Himalayan region of India are eminently suited for commercial exploitation of walnuts from the north western Himalayas to the north eastern Hill region(Pandey & Shukla, 2006). Among the few walnut producing nations of the world, India appears on the ninth spot in the list of the walnut producing countries where China tops the list followed by United States of America (FAOSTAT, 2016). India also occupies its share in the international market by virtue of the export of the dry fruit like walnut to the countries particularly United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Germany, Egypt, Nepal etc. In 2016-17 India exported 2,191.21 metric tons of walnut worth the cash value of INR 5527.23 lakh(Horticulture Statistics at a Glance, 2017).India is having the vibrant horticultural base encompassing 92 thousand hectare area under the walnut and 229 thousand metric tons production in 2015-16 (Horticulture Statistics at a Glance 2017). Jammu and Kashmir followed by Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh are the prime contributors of the dominating walnut industry in India.

Walnut Industry in Jammu and Kashmir:

Jammu and Kashmir with its extensive potential of the production of temperate fruits supported by its vibrant geo-climatic conditions playa marvellous role in the development of the walnut industry. The state is also well known forthe production of numerous types of fruits like apple, cherry, pear, apricots and in dry fruits category it also produces walnuts(Taufique and et al, 2017)hence takes the lead in the walnut production in India. Walnuts became the viable horticulture industry in India since 1980’s particularly in the valley of Kashmir (Pandey & Shukla, 2006). Jammu and Kashmir occupy almost 90 per cent share of walnut industry in India. The provisional data released by the National Horticulture Board shows that Jammu and Kashmir produced 206.43 thousand metric tons of walnut with an area under its cultivation of 69.24 thousand hectares in comparison to It, rest of India produced 21.8 thousand metric tons with an area of 22.85 thousand hectares in 2016-17(Horticulture Statistics at a Glance 2017). Recently Jammu and Kashmir have been declared as an ‘Agri-Export Zone’ for ‘walnuts’ (Shah, R.A, 2017).  Walnut produced in Jammu and Kashmir is purely organic as it is grown in the naturally induced conditions without the heavy doses of fertilizers and sprays. The aroma, flavour and taste of its excellent capacity make the walnut of Jammu and Kashmir one of the best in Indian and abroad as well. The major walnut production stretches are spread in the districts of Anantnag, Kupwara, Kulgam, Budgam, Doda, Poonch, Kashtiwar and Kathua. The demand of Kashmiri walnut is increasing rapidly which needs to bring more land under it and require a regular attention to this industry so that it can better flourish in the times to come.

 

 

 

 

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The main objectives of the study are as under

·        To estimate the performance of area and production of Walnut in Jammu and Kashmir.

·        To explore the spatio-temporal trend of walnut across all districts in the study area.

·        To find out critical problems faced by the walnut industry and to suggest some suitable measures.

 

DATABASE AND METHODOLOGY:

The study is primarily based on the secondary sources of data. The information pertaining to the walnut industry has been accrued from several reputed agencies. Some governmental agencies which were consulted for data collection are Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir, National Horticulture Board etc. Besides these several newspapers, articles and journals were studied for this purpose. Tables and diagrams were prepared with the help of Microsoft Excel 2010. Further for the referencing, Mendeley Referencing Management Software was brought in to use.

 

Geographical Profile of Study Area:

Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous state located in the Himalayan region of India. It is located between 32° 17" and 36° 58" North latitudes and 73°26" and 80° 30" East longitudes. Having varied geo-climatic conditions mostly the temperate climate, found in several valleys like Lidder valley, Punch valley, Lolab valley and the most important and largest the beautiful valley of Kashmir. The rivers which form the drainage system of the state are Indus, Chenab, Jehlum, Tavi etc. Famous for horticulture it produces several varieties of fresh and dry fruits of national and international repute. Most interestingly Jammu and Kashmiris the leading producer of walnuts in India.

 

Figure 1: Map of Jammu and Kashmir.

Source: Centre for Policy Studies.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The output of the product largely extent depends on the area covered under it.It seems there was a large scale reduction in the area under the walnut so it ultimately affected the production in the Jammu and Kashmir. The analysis of the data from (Table 1) shows that in some districts there has been the maximum reduction in area under the walnuts from 2007-08 to 2016-17.The acute decline in the acreages under the walnut was found in the districts of Srinagar from 623 hectares to 222 hectares in ten years which accounted to be the negative growth rate of -64 per cent , similarly districts like Rajouri with -38 per cent , Budgam -37 per cent, Bandipora -19 per cent (Figure 2) Shopian and Kathua with -6 per cent  negative growth rate have followed the same pattern(Table 3).

 

Table 1: Area and Production of walnuts.

Source: Directorate of Horticulture Jammu and Kashmir, 2018.

 

Srinagar is the summer capital of the state, it has a maximum tendency of urbanization soit faces the influx ofthe immigrants from across the valley, Forth more, the availability of limited horticultural area in the district. This entire scenario has negatively contributed to the area under walnut and ultimately it showed the highest negative growth rate of -64 per cent (Table 3) in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Shopian, on the other hand, is famous for the fresh fruits particularly the apple. This district produces the quality apple and extensive area has been brought under its cultivation. The inclination of the people towards the brilliant quality of the apple has influenced and very rare attention towards the production of walnut. The area which was earlier under the walnuts and other dry fruits have been largely brought under the cultivation of apple trees. So this became one of the causes of the reduction of walnut in the Shopian district.

 

In spite of the fact that Kashmir enjoys the monopoly of walnut, but at the same time problematic conditions increase day byday and consequently expansion and enhancement of walnut industry are losing its credibility in recent years. Kashmir valley including the Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh had the share of 82.92 per cent in terms of production comparison to 34.63 per cent of Jammu in the year 2007-08 Table 2. However, same Kashmir region reduced itself to the margin of 65.36 per cent in the year 2016-17.

 

 

Figure 2: Change in Area under Walnut.

Source: Prepared by Researchers from the data of Directorate of Horticulture Jammu and Kashmir (2017).

 

Table 2: Area and Production of Walnut.

Source: Directorate of Horticulture Jammu and Kashmir.                                      Note:Figures in bracket shows percent share from the total.

 

Table 3: Change in Area Under walnuts.

District	2007-08 to 2016-17
	Change in Area  (Per cent)
Srinagar	-64
Ganderbal	54
Budgam	-37
Baramulla	4
Bandipora	-19
Kupwara	7
Anantnag	5
Kulgam	9
Shopian	-6
Pulwama	56
Leh	0
Kargil	25
Jammu	0
Samba	0
Kathua	-6
Udhampur	47
Reasi	29
Doda	13
Kishtiwar	20
Ramban	28
Rajouri	-38
Poonch	84

Source: Directorate of Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir, 2018.

 

The positive growth rate in the Jammu depicts that walnut industry is on the development mode in this part of the state but the declining trend by the other part of the state that is Kashmir remains the cause of concern. Because downfall in the production in Kashmir itself portrays the dismay as the same region bears the most favourable conditions for the growth of walnut.

 

It has been observed from the (Table 4) that in the walnut sector kernel dominates the export. From the outer shell of the walnut, the hard shell which is covering the inner part is separated and thus kernel is extracted. Both types of the walnut whether in the shell or in the form of the extracted kernel is exported outside the state which empowers thousands of the families economically.

 

Table4: Export of Walnut and Foreign Exchange earned in Jammu and Kashmir.

Year	Quantity Exported in Metric Tons		Foreign Exchange Earned
	Shell	Kernel	Rupees (in Crores)
2006-07	376	5061	118.02
2007-08	161	6531	160.53
2008-09	273	4000	N.A
2009-10	N.A	N.A	N.A
2010-11	235	3124	87.89
2011-12	142	4321	177.91
2012-13	309	4986	199.82
2013-14	Nil	5274	344.90
2014-15	178.71	1866.34	99.21
2015-16	88.84	2940.20	12.45
Change in Per cent	-76.37	-41.90	-89.45

Source: Digest of Statistics Jammu and Kashmir, 2015-16.

 

During the year of 2013-14, foreign exchange of worth 344.90 crore INR (Figure 3) which stands to be the highest cash value was earned in the recent years. But immediately after 2014-15, the export in terms of the kernel and in-shell quantity experienced a drastic reduction hence brought down the foreign earnings to INR 99.21 crore and in the very next year in 2015-16 it further declined to INR 12.45 crore.

 

From the analysis of the (Table 4), it can be emphasised thatwalnut industry is passing through a very struggling phase either from the area under this dry fruit or from the production point of view. In other terms, it might not be wrong to state that instead of spreading its footprints in the economic vehicle it is reducing its expansion by a sharp deduction both in the number of walnuts exported and economic benefits in the terms of cash earnings in the form of foreign exchange. During the period from2006-07 to 2015-16, In-shell walnut appeared with the negative growth rate of -76.37 percent while as Kernel export experienced relatively a lower overall negative change of -41.90 per cent (Table 4) and the most important component of this sector that is the economic output or the foreign exchange earned has come out with the maximum negative change of -89.45 per cent. It is extremely unfortunate that one the blooming walnut industry has found itself in the maddest of the challenges and thereby is losing ground in almost every front at the very time when the same walnut industry is thriving and gaining new heights in the nations like United States of America, Chile, China etc.

 

 

Figure 3: Foreign Exchange earned from Walnuts industry.

Source: Prepared by researchers from the data of Digest of Statistics, Jammu and Kashmir, 2015-16.

 

 

Major Problems faced by Walnut Industry:

The people associated with walnuts in general and the walnut industry in specifically confront a range of issues almost at every stage from the plantation of trees to the marketing of this product.

 

India has a handsome share of walnut trade in the global market but the unregulated market and low import duty have created havoc in this dry fruit.

 

The competition from the foreign suppliers especially from California and Chile is increasing at the very fast rate.

 

The exports are not growing with the comfortable rate due to the diminishments in the production and most important the absence of the export-oriented strategies bring this walnut industry at the back foot.

 

At the very root level, the absence of the best possible management of the walnut orchids and further the inaccessibility of the quality plants has added more issues to the walnut industry.

 

The grafting techniques and the innovative training to the farmers are the inseparable part of the fruit industry anywhere butun fortunately, Jammu and Kashmir is lingering behind in these kinds of advancements. Thus without the grafting the produce what we get is in the form of uneven varieties not compatible in the international market.

 

The wood of the walnut trees is of great demand because it is considered very strong and durable hence this wood is used for construction and furniture. The same wood is used for the panelling and decorative purposes in the newly constructed houses, moreover, the wood of the same tree is also used to carve out different kinds of toys so in this capacity numerous trees were cut down recently. This challenge is tacking pace with time.

 

Likewise the pattern of apple and other fresh fruits there is not the proper mechanism of the well-crafted orchid management, in addition, less consideration is paid towards this industry by the horticulture department of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Low level of Infrastructural development becomes another impediment like unavailability of transport facilities and developed packing houses are nowhere available.

 

There is only one mandi for the entire production located in Jammu and no other mandi has been established in any other part of the state.

 

Suggestions and Policy Measures:

By the year 2030, to meet the domestic and export demand we need to produce 4.98 lakh tons from an area of 1.66 lakh hectares with an average productivity of about 3 tons per hectare of walnut(Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Parshant Bakshi,V K Wali, 2017). There is much need for bringing more area under the walnuts so that the production may increase. Jammu and Kashmir with its immense potential for the expansion and the productivity can act as a catalyst for the growth of the walnut industry in India. As discussed earlier the state enjoys the topmost position and is the largest producer and exporter of walnut in India. Here are some suggestions which may be fruitful for the overall nourishment and development of Walnut industry in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Ø  Old and senile walnut trees which are there 100 to 150years needs to be replaced by the new varieties of walnut trees having the capacity of voluminous production and productivity.

Ø  On the pattern of apple and other fresh fruits, there is a dire need for the introduction of new growth and grower oriented horticultural polices.

Ø  The domestic and foreign demands are going to accelerate in the near future so there should be the establishment of high-density walnut plants with better-grafted varieties.

Ø  Jammu and Kashmir walnut industry is far away from technical know-how which needs to be improvised through the training and to facilitate tours including all stakeholders from growers to exporters to other countries so as to address the training issues.

Ø  Establishment of the scientific packing and grading houses in the vicinity of the orchids.

Ø  Disease and pest control measures further the diffusion of credit and financial schemes, better infrastructural facilities in the form of well-connected roads and transport, the establishment of the cold storage needs the utmost attention.

Ø  Marketing mechanism is not justified with only one Mundi. There should be the establishment of walnut Mundi in each district especially in the valley of Kashmir where from maximum production is realized. Additionally, growers should be allowed to sell their products in the other fruit markets of the country as well.

 

CONCLUSION:

Jammu and Kashmir equipped with the vibrant agro-climatic conditions favourably responsible to the enormous production of unique varieties of dry fruits arequietly visible in entire India. Walnut being the dominant fruit in the dry fruit category which earlier was the attraction for the fruit consumers and fruit traders now shambles. In this research paper, it has been realized that the walnut industry is losing its ground in the valley where from the maximum production comes. It has also beenobserved that some of the districts recorded a negative growth rate in the area under walnut cultivations as the maximum negative growth rate was in the districts of Srinagar followed by Rajouri, Budgam, Bandipora, Shopian and Kathaua. However, the Jammu division of the state is supporting positive trend by enhancing both areas under cultivation and production at a much-accelerated rate. Besides this, the export reduction and the cash earned from walnut is also not showing a positive trend. This is the clear indication of loss of this dry fruit industry.  Besides this, it came to notice that the walnut industry is confronted with a wide range of challenges. The ruthless chopping down of trees for the sake of wood, poor infrastructure, transportation bottlenecks, lack of effective export and marketing strategies etc. have brought this cash industry towards the pathetic stage.  To overcome these challenges and spare this industry from extinction, overall efforts should be laid by involving all the sections of society in close coordination with the all stakeholders who are engaged with this industry.

 

REFERENCES: 

1.       Directorate of Horticulture Planning and marketing (2018), Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

2.       Directorate of Horticulture (2018), Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

3.       Horticulture Statistics at a Glance, (2017), Ministry of agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

4.       Digest of Statistics (2015-16), Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

5.       FAOSTAT, (2016), Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations-http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/?#data/QC

6.       Horticulture at a Glance 2017. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2017-en

7.       Pandey, G., & Shukla, S. K. (2006). The walnut industry in India - current status and future prospects. International Journal of Fruit Science, 6(4), 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1300/J492v06n04

8.       Pollegioni, P., Woeste, K., Chiocchini, F., Del Lungo, S., Ciolfi, M., Olimpieri, I., … Malvolti, M. E. (2017). Rethinking the history of common walnut (Juglans regia L.) in Europe: Its origins and human interactions. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172541

9.       Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Parshant Bakshi,V K Wali, A. J. and R. G. (2017). Walnut Production in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Retrieved July 9, 2018, from https://www.biotecharticles.com/Agriculture-Article/Walnut-Production-in-Jammu-and-Kashmir-India-4094.html

10.     Simpson, J. (2016). Walnut industry expansion, 60(Table 1), 1–7.

11.     Taufique, M., Khursheed, V., & Suhail Ahmad, W. (2017). Saffron Production in Jammu and Kashmir: Problems and Prospects. IJSRD -International Journal for Scientific Research & Development|, 5(04online), 2321–2613. Retrieved from www.ijsrd.com

 

 

Received on 16.08.2018       Modified on 10.09.2018

Accepted on 12.10.2018      ©A&V Publications All right reserved