Almond Cultivation in India

1. Major Varieties (Commercially Grown & Traded)

• Indian & Kashmiri Varieties

  • Shalimar – pointed, large-size nuts

  • Mukdoom, Pranyaj – traditional Kashmiri types

• Introduced/High-selling Varieties

  • California Paper Shells – large, thin shell, sweet

  • Merced – flat, light brown, mid-to-late season

  • Nonpareil – elongated, pale-brown shell (most popular export variety worldwide)

  • Drake, IXL – widely cultivated

• Other Commercial Varieties

  • Primorskii, Ne Plus Ultra, Thompson, Butte, Monterey, Ruby, Fritz, Sonora, Padre, Le Grand, Peerless, Carmel, Price

2. Technical Factors for Cultivation

Agro-Climatic Conditions

• Best at 30–35°C summers; blossoms survive short cold spells (–2.2°C to –3.3°C).

• Sensitive to prolonged frost during flowering.

Soil

• pH 7.0–8.5, deep loamy soil, well-drained, drought-tolerant.

• Requires Farm Yard Manure FYM (20–25 kg/tree/year) + scheduled fertilisers.

Planting

• Season: Feb–March (pit dug in Sept–Oct).

• Spacing: 6m × 6m (square system).

• Bamboo supports for young plants.

Mixed Cropping (Pre-bearing stage)

• Pulses, peas (soil fertility)

• Mustard, turnip (boost pollination)

• Aromatic/medicinal crops (lavender, garlic – pest repellent).

Irrigation

• Critical during flowering (Feb–Mar) and fruit development (Apr–Jun).

• Drip irrigation best for water-use efficiency.

Harvesting

• Trees bear fruit in 3 years, full yield in 6–7 years.

• Ready after 8 months of flowering (Aug–Sept).

• Indicators: pod splits, shell visible → manual shaking.

• Nuts dried (sun/air-polytunnels) to 5–7% moisture before hulling.

Yield

• 1,400–2,600 lbs/acre with proper management.

3. Almond-Producing States in India

1. Jammu & Kashmir – largest producer (91.26% of total, ~12.9k tonnes).

2. Himachal Pradesh – second (~0.76k tonnes).

3. Maharashtra – hot-climate adapted cultivation.

4. Karnataka – Bangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, Davangere, Mangalore.

5. Andhra Pradesh – rising market-based cultivation.

6. Uttar Pradesh – scaling up new orchards.

7. Kerala – adopting for health-product market.

8. Tamil Nadu – favourable pockets.

9. West Bengal – moderate contribution.

10. Gujarat – small but emerging via agri-tech adoption.

11. Rajasthan – suitable agro-climatic zones (sweet & bitter almond).

4. Challenges

• Climate variability (frost, erratic rains).

• High water demand → environmental sustainability concerns.

• Competition from low-cost imported almonds.

• Lack of modern post-harvest infrastructure.

• Bee mortality due to pollination stress.

5. Significance

• Almonds = nutritious, high-value cash crop → boosts farmer income.

• Strong domestic demand for sweets, beverages (kehwa, milk, desserts).

• Expanding role in nutraceuticals & plant-based milk industry.