Srinagar: As walnut harvesting begins across Kashmir, the seasonal work is once again drawing attention to the safety risks faced by labourers who climb tall trees to collect the crop. With many workers continuing to operate without harnesses, helmets or other protective equipment, concerns over falls and serious injuries remain.
Over the years, walnut harvesting has been linked to several fatal and serious fall accidents across the Valley, underscoring the need for greater awareness, safety measures and protective equipment during the season.
Gulzar Ahmad Ganie, a local farmer, said he owns several walnut trees and sells the produce to buyers who procure walnuts directly from farmers and supply them to markets in Kashmir and other parts of the country.
“When the harvesting season begins, buyers and farmers hire labourers on a daily-wage basis to harvest walnuts,” Ganie said.
He said workers generally use long sticks to knock walnuts down from the trees and rarely use safety equipment.
“The walnut harvesting season lasts for a short period, usually from around August 20 to September 10. Since the work is seasonal, labourers are reluctant or unable to purchase safety equipment for themselves,” he said.
Salam Ahmad, a labourer engaged in walnut harvesting, said workers take up whatever daily-wage work is available to them.
“We work as daily labourers and take up different kinds of work depending on availability. During walnut harvesting, we generally do not use any safety gear,” Ahmad said.
He said the walnut harvest provides livelihood opportunities to a large number of people across the Valley, including labourers, shopkeepers, dry-fruit dealers and owners of walnut cleaning and processing machines.
Ahmad urged the authorities, particularly the Horticulture Department, to provide safety equipment to workers involved in walnut harvesting.
“If the Horticulture Department provides safety equipment to labourers, they will feel safer while working on the trees. Most of us earn only a small amount on a daily basis, and it is difficult for every labourer to purchase such equipment,” he said.
Salman said the industry provides livelihood opportunities to thousands of families directly and indirectly.
“The government should provide high-density walnut plants to farmers at subsidised prices. This will help boost walnut production and ensure that Kashmiri walnuts continue to have demand in markets across India as well as abroad,” he said.
Meanwhile, workers associated with the walnut trade have also called for measures to revive and strengthen the sector. They said the government should provide high-density walnut saplings to farmers at subsidised rates to encourage the development of new orchards.
