Photo Feature: Harvesting Kashmir’s prized almonds, one orchard at a time

Known for their rich flavour and exceptional quality, Kashmiri almonds are prized across India and beyond. Every year, from late July to September, the region’s almond orchards come alive as the harvest season begins.

On an elevated plateau in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, farmers from the villages of Koil, Chandgam, and Payar gather to harvest the crop. Perched high on towering almond trees, they use long wooden poles to knock the nuts onto large sheets spread beneath the branches. Others move swiftly across the orchard floor, collecting the fallen almonds, filling sacks, and pausing occasionally to crack open a few fresh kernels before returning to work.

For these families, the harvest is far more than a seasonal task. It is a tradition passed down through generations, a source of livelihood, and a time when entire communities come together in the orchards. This photo essay captures the people behind Kashmir’s almond harvest, their labour, resilience, and the quiet rhythms of life that unfold during one of the Valley’s most cherished agricultural seasons.

Rest in photos…

Carrying wooden harvesting sticks and drinking water, a farmer walks towards an almond tree after tarpaulins have been spread beneath its canopy to catch the falling crop. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Working together, farmers sort the harvested almonds, removing leaves and other debris before the crop is packed for transport. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Amid the day’s work, a farmer pauses to crack open and eat a freshly harvested almond in the orchard. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

A farmer gathers almonds that have fallen beyond the tarpaulin, ensuring none of the harvest goes to waste. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Farmers check the branches for almonds left behind before selecting the right stick to bring down the remaining crop. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Using an extra-long wooden stick, a farmer dislodges almonds from branches too high to reach by climbing. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

A farmer carries tarpaulins and harvesting sticks to an almond tree, where the sheet will be laid beneath the canopy before the harvest begins. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Farmers spread large tarpaulins beneath an almond tree before the harvest begins. The tarpaulins catch the almonds as they are shaken loose from the branches. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

Once the almonds are knocked from the tree, farmers lift the tarpaulin to gather the crop into one place for easier sorting and packing. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]

A ripe almond splits through its green outer hull, signalling that the fruit is ready to be harvested. [FPK Photo/Tajamul Mukhtar]