Efforts to increase walnut production in non-Kashmir Himalayan states

WANGAI has chalked out strategy to increase production, launch efforts to bring high quality lateral bearing varieties from abroad

The walnut cultivation has mostly remained synonymous with Jammu and Kashmir in India. In other Himalayan states, walnut has not seen much growth.

According to a survey, 90 percent of the total walnut demand in the country is being met by Kashmir only. The total area under walnut is 30,800 hectare and the annual production is 36,000 metric tons in the country.

And now Walnut and Other Nut Fruit Growers Association of India (WANGAI), a newly formed body of walnut growers in the country, has chalked out a strategy to increase the production and launch efforts to bring high quality lateral bearing varieties from abroad.

The WANGAI had also held a seminar last month in Almora where it came out with 12-point recommendations calling for establishing walnut centres of excellence in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunchal Pradesh.

As part of the strategy, WANGAI on Tuesday asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to set up two walnut centres of excellence in the hill state for the healthy growth of the dry fruit cultivation.

A delegation of the WANGAI led by its president K C Pandey met the Chief Minister here and said the two centres of excellence will also help the walnut growers to get better price in the market compared to other fruits. These walnut centres should be set up one each in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions, Pandey said.

Stating that the quality of walnuts in non-Kashmir areas like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh was not of good quality, the WANGAI also called for ensuring availability of high quality lateral bearing varieties of walnut from abroad like Chandler, Howard, lara, fernor and franquette.

To bring more area under walnut cultivation in cluster mode, it asked walnut growing states to adopt end-to-end approach involving production, protection, post harvest management, processing and marketing.

“The productivity of walnut in our country in our country is about 1.2 MT per hectare which is very low as compared to other countries like US, China, France and Mexico where it ranges from 3 to 5 MT per Ha,” Pandey said.

According to a study, walnut orchad can provide permanent green cover to the soil. The gross return on walnut comes round Rs 3 lakh per hectare.

This is based on the yield of 1500 kg per hectare and farm price of Rs 200 per kg. After deducting the farm expenses assumed to be 40 percent of the gross return, the net income of the farmer comes to be Rs 1.80 lakh per hectare.