In absence of walnut mandi, Handwara's growers unable to remain profitable

Kupwara, Oct 20: The north Kashmir’s Handwara sub-district, although has been recognised for its abundant walnut production, but it still lacks a formal walnut market, subjecting farmers to struggle with selling their produce. Without a proper mandi anywhere in Handwara, growers are often forced to sell their produce in an unorganised way which exposes them to exploitation by middlemen, unsafe conditions, and often results in lower prices, leading to significant financial losses.

According to official data available, the total walnut production in 2025 across the district has reached 8,837 metric tons, while in Handwara Sub-District a total of 2,500.745 metric tons has been recorded in the set seven zones this year.

The seven zones include Handwara zone which produced 379.725 metric tons, Rajwar zone produced 529 metric tons, Vilgam zone 490 metric tons, Ashpora zone 285 metric tons, Kralgund zone 302 metric tons, Langate zone 134.820 metric tons, and 380.200 metric tons in Mawer zone. A senior official told Greater Kashmir that the production has remained consistent compared to the previous year, though farmers continue to face challenges related to marketing infrastructure and price fluctuations.

Local farmers stressed that a dedicated walnut market would allow them to directly connect with buyers, which will pave the way for transparency and fair pricing. “Walnut harvesting takes great effort every year but without a proper market, we are left helpless and at the mercy of middlemen. Had the mandi been set up, thousands of farmers would not have been facing these hardships,” said Bilal Ahmad, a grower.

“We have been appealing to the government, the district administration, and the Horticulture Department to address this long-standing demand but to no avail. Establishing a regulated walnut mandi is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity for protecting the livelihoods of the region’s farmers,” he added.

“In addition to providing fair pricing, establishing mandi could boost the local economy, attract traders from other regions, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. We hope that authorities will act swiftly to ensure that Handwara’s walnut growers receive the support and recognition they deserve,” the aggrieved growers added.

President Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh J&K, Tanvir Dar said that thousands of families in Handwara sub-district are associatd with walnut production to earn their livelihood, so government should take a call on setting up a separate mandi for growers so that they can get the desired rates of their produce. He said that the concerned department should also provide life saving kits to the families associated with the walnut production to thwart any untoward incident.

Horticulture Area Marketing Officer Kupwara, Ali Mohammad said that a walnut mandi has already been set up at district headquarters and people from different areas arrive here everyday to sell their produce. On being asked, will the department set up a separate mandi at Handwara, he said that only his senior officers can comment on it.