Production & Exports

The Himalayas in India are well known for producing some wonderful, nutrition rich fruits and herbs. One of these is Walnuts. The state of Jammu & Kashmir in the far northern region of India is the country's major walnut producing zone. In fact, all the walnut exported from Indian Exporters is grown in J&K. 

Walnuts flourishes in temperate belts, however, at altitudes of 900-3500 m. Indian Exporters are of the view that walnuts produced at altitudes of 1500 m and above are superior quality, with a light colored kernel and a characteristic thin shell. Due to high temperatures at the time of ripening, the walnut kernels turn brown at lower elevations. 

Successful Walnut cultivation calls for a well drained, deep silt-loam or clay-loam, with plenty of lime and humus. Extra care has to be taken to avoid flooding as excess accumulation of water is harmful for development of walnut trees and thus affects the quality of nuts. Too less water is also a precursor to less than average walnuts. Walnut trees grown on shallow soils with little moisture content remain stunted and are very often affected by sunburn. 

Walnut trees can be raised either from seeds or through budding and grafting method. A young walnut tree starts producing fruits at the age of about 15 years but optimum production starts around 25 years. Kashmir walnut trees continue to produce sweet fruit until the age of about 100 years. 

Indian walnuts are classified on the basis of their size and shell cracking rate. The main grades are: 

• India-Special light half
• Indian Light broken
• Indian Light pieces
• Indian Light crumbs
• Indian Light-my-fire
• Indian Light Amber halves
• Indian Light Amber broken
• Indian Light Amber pieces

Walnut cultivation could not develop rapidly due to a number of constraints like low scientific research, improper, random classification, long gestation period, low tree density etc.  Sensing the need for an increase in walnut exports for helping the local populace, the J&K Government undertook a project with the help of UNDP and Govt. of India in 1996. 

The aim of the project was to introduce modern propagation techniques for adoption under the agro-climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. This helped create the necessary knowledge to establish modem walnut orchards and support local efforts to produce walnuts of uniform quality and compete on the international market. In this way, growers were in a better position to earn maximum benefit. The encouraging results of the project have meant a windfall for walnut producers in Kashmir as well as Indian exporters of Walnuts.

Increased and improved production of walnuts has brought the Walnuts in the forefront of Export market and today the domestic consumption pales in comparison to export figures of Walnuts.

Source :ezinearticles