Almond Cracks record

But favourable weather conditions in mid-spring and winter soon followed and six months later, the almond yield is all set to touch 15,000 metric tonnes — the highest-ever in the Valley.

Right since the beginning of this year, almond trees across Kashmir valley were in full bloom, holding out a promise of bounteous production.

“The heavy snowfall in winters followed by pleasant spring had a good impact on the productivity of almond crop,” said Ghulam Hassan Dar, who owns a big almond orchard in Khiram village of south Kashmir.

“The almond bloom was so heavy this year that despite damages, there has been a good harvest,” he said. “After many years, the growers are experiencing such a good almond crop.”

Across the Valley, growers start plucking almonds from the first week of September. Around 16,000 to 18,000 hectares of land is under almond cultivation here.

“Compared to previous year’s, our estimates indicate that thousands of tonnes of more almonds will be produced in Kashmir this time around.”

Officials say the almond production was around 11, 000 metric tonnes in 2007.

Kashmir produces two varieties of almond -- hard and paper shell. While the first variety is found in every part of Kashmir, the later is grown in south and central Kashmir in abundance.

Besides, dispatching almonds to domestic markets across the country, growers have also started exporting almond kernels to different countries where it fetches handsome returns.

“We could not export almonds to international markets last year,” said Abdul Rashid Khan, an almond producer in central Kashmir's Budgam district. “This year, many growers have started exporting almond kernels to international markets.”

President, Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat said the almond crop was wiped out last two years. “This year’s record production will compensated for our earlier losses.”

Bhat said Kashmiri growers could double their almond production if late blooming varieties were introduced. “The government, however, has so far shown no interest in introducing late blooming varieties of almond,” he added.