Toxic mist, no masks: How Kashmir’s apple boom is poisoning its workers

Anantnag, Jan 28: On a clear autumn morning in Kashmir’s apple belt, a fine chemical mist hangs over rows of apple trees as orchard workers move steadily between them, pesticide sprayers in hand. Most spray bare-handed. Very few wear masks. Goggles and protective clothing are almost absent.

Across the Kashmir Valley—from Shopian and Anantnag to Kulgam and Sopore—the widespread use of toxic pesticides without basic safety gear has emerged as a persistent but underreported public health concern in one of India’s most horticulture-dependent regions.

Kashmir produces nearly 75 percent of India’s apples, and pesticide spraying is an unavoidable part of orchard management, especially during peak pest seasons from spring to late summer. Yet field visits and interviews across multiple districts reveal that a majority of orchard workers spray chemicals without gloves, masks, goggles, or protective clothing.

“We have been spraying like this for years,” said Ghulam Ahmad, apple grower from Bijbehara. His hands are visibly rough and scarred. “Nobody told us we needed special clothes or masks. In the heat, it becomes difficult to breathe while wearing masks.”

Many farmers cited similar reasons: lack of awareness, high cost of protective equipment, discomfort during long spraying hours, and reliance on traditional practices passed down through generations. For seasonal labourers, who are often paid daily wages, safety equipment is rarely provided by orchard owners.

Doctors say the consequences of such exposure are increasingly visible.

“Patients come during spraying seasons complaining of skin rashes, itching, burning eyes, breathing difficulty, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and throat infections,” said Dr Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhoda. “We routinely treat orchard workers with contact dermatitis and respiratory irritation linked to pesticide exposure.”

Dr Nazish Bukhari from the Government Medical College Baramulla warned of more serious outcomes. “Pesticide exposure can lead to organophosphate poisoning, asthma, COPD, chronic neurological disorders, and most commonly, elevated risk of cancer.”

Ophthalmologists report frequent cases of conjunctivitis and corneal irritation during peak spraying months, often caused by chemical droplets entering unprotected eyes. Pulmonologists warn that repeated inhalation of pesticides may aggravate asthma and contribute to chronic respiratory disease.

Agricultural scientists and public health experts caution that the most serious effects may take years to manifest. Prolonged exposure to commonly used pesticides has been linked globally to neurological disorders, hormonal disruption, and increased cancer risk.

Despite these risks, Kashmir lacks a systematic mechanism to track occupational illnesses among orchard workers.

Institutional gaps play a central role in the problem. While the horticulture department issues advisories on pest management, farmers say practical training on safe pesticide handling is rare.

“Horticulture experts tell us which spray to use, not how to protect ourselves,” said Manzoor Ahmad Lone, an orchardist in Bijbehara.

“There are no demonstrations, no safety kits.”

Regulation of pesticide sales is also weak. Chemicals are freely sold across rural markets, often without proper labeling or mandatory safety instructions from sellers. Shopkeepers rarely insist on protective gear purchases, and enforcement of existing rules remains minimal.

Public health experts note that occupational safety campaigns, common in industrial sectors, are virtually absent in rural agriculture.

The lack of protective equipment in orchards is not merely an agricultural problem but part of a larger pattern of rural occupational vulnerability. Orchard workers often lack health insurance, routine medical screening, or access to specialised care. Seasonal labourers, many of whom migrate within the Valley, remain especially exposed.

For now, spraying continues much as it always has—with chemical clouds drifting through orchards and workers absorbing the risks silently.

As Kashmir’s apple economy expands and pesticide use intensifies, doctors and experts warn that without targeted training, strict regulation, and sustained awareness campaigns, the health costs borne by orchard workers may continue to rise—largely unseen and unaccounted for.

By: Arif Bashir