Every year when Spring Season Comes into valley The Almonds trees of Karewa Lands blooms the First sign of Season attracted the People towards its Visits,and Farmers expected for Bumper Crops for their livelihood.The Almond Industry is Slowly dying its Identity as the hundreds of Kanals of Karewa lands are Converted into apple orchards from past Couple of years in Southern Kashmir's Pulwama district which was one of Popular places for the Almond cultivation.Villages like Payer,Nowharda Koil Chandgam and Parigam zadoora Newa wahibugh Rahmoo from Pulwama was highly popular for Almond Cultivation,but hundreds of families of these areas cut there trees and Planted Apple Orchards shows negative sign for Almond Industry.Gazi Khursheed A poet while taking to 5 dariya News told,People show resentment towards Almond cultivation from Couple of years because lack of Awareness , not receive good profit as Compeared the other States in Markets ,Departmental Negligence who don't take front to aware People how to bring Bumper crops and to used modern equipments,Precautionary methods,what kind of Pesticides and fertilizers to help cultivaters to save this Industry from drying.Javeed Ahmad, Who has 4 Kanals of Almond orchard in Payer Village told ,that If the speed goes same like today to Convert the kareee almond orchard into Apples,with in years no almond tree would stand and this Industry will on only on paper's.
He added, People are unaware how to do Almond Farming they only know to sow seed and create a tree in lands What kind of Pesticides Fertilizers,Precautionary methods used to generate a Good crop from Almond trees, as more one is watering into it, which forces People to cut down trees as Horticulture department can't take concrete steps. He added All almond trees are located in Karewa's during summer water is basic more needed and on timely is one the basic factor in declining the almond trees,as Hoticulture has no water pumps, handpumps and water management system in these needful areas.Another Resident told that there is no market or Mandi in Valley all business are carried by Jammu traders, even they didn't produce single almond while growers are in losses they earn profit.Villagers told unless and until Govt didn't work on ground to decentralise markets,water Pumps established In these areas,Orivide subsidised loans to almond farmers,minimum one hand pump to families, awareness Programes then they can save this Production.When 5 dariya news Contacted Cheif Horticulture Pulwama he told,I Assume Charge Recently, I assure you I will look into this Matter,If you want further talk to concerned officer.When the Correspondent tried to Contact concerned officer the area, he told, our Department always aware the people who are attached this profession time to ,but unfortunately they seems profit in Apples orchards and cuts the Almond trees Rapidly ,our farmers have old variety of Almonds which don't compete with national markets of it's hard shell,we always technically support the people who want to establish a new varieties of almonds in their land.