Tariff Turnaround: Kashmiri walnut market hits new heights

Uri, Sep 20: Traders and farmers in Lagama, one of Uri’s busiest markets, are smiling a little wider this year as the prices of Kashmiri walnuts have soared, bringing a rare financial boost to the region’s dry fruit sector.

For years, walnut prices hovered around Rs 600 per kilogram, leaving growers struggling to make ends meet. This season, however, the rates have doubled to Rs 1,200 per kilogram, marking a significant turnaround for the local economy.

Local traders attribute this surge to changes in international trade policies, particularly the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Indian goods. With India reducing walnut imports, domestic demand for locally grown Kashmiri walnuts has increased sharply, creating new opportunities for growers and traders alike.

“Until last year, foreign imports dominated the market, making it difficult for us to compete,” said Mohammad Amin Chalkoo, president of the Dry Fruit Association Uri. “Now, local walnuts are in high demand across India, and the rising prices are a welcome relief for traders.”

Farmers, too, are feeling the impact. “For years, our profits were stagnant despite the hard work we put into walnut cultivation,” said Shabir Ahmad, a grower from Garkote village. “This year, it feels like our produce is finally being valued properly.”

With the walnut harvest in full swing, Lagama’s traders are optimistic about one of their most profitable years in recent memory, hoping that government support will further strengthen the prospects of the region’s renowned walnut industry.