The announcement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Sunday to support the high-value nut crops, including walnut, has brought a fresh wave of optimism for nearly seven lakh people whose livelihoods depend on the struggling walnut trade in Jammu and Kashmir. Shafi said the high-density crops, as envisaged in the budget announcement, will help the local growers compete with California and Chile walnuts.
Budget 2026-27: Sitharaman’s push for high-value nut crops sparks hope for J&K walnut trade
