25-05-2025
Dry fruits, saffron gets expensive in Bengaluru as arrivals from Kashmir take a hit
Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the prices of dry fruits and saffron, which are brought in mainly from Kashmir, have increased in Bengaluru as the attack reportedly has had an effect on trade.
According to dry fruits sellers, the price of walnuts has increased from ₹1,000 per kg to ₹1,500 per kg and almonds have gone up from ₹700 per kg to ₹900 kg. The price of saffron has shot up from ₹250 per gram to ₹450 per gram.
The traders said that after the tragic incident, they have not received dry fruits and saffron from Kashmir and their stocks are depleting. Vinayaka from S. Kumar and Sons in Shivajinagar said, 'The dry fruits stopped coming from Kashmir a month ago and the suppliers from Kashmir are not answering calls.'
The traders also said that the attack occurred during the important month of Mousam-E-Khazan (season of peak produce) and affected trade. President of Cantonment Fruits and Dry Fruits Merchants Association, Mohammed Idrees Choudhury said, 'The demand for saffron, especially, has increased due to the reduction in its availability. I have been unable to fulfil the orders placed by my regular customers, which include 5-star hotels. Not just me, but most traders have been forced to use the stock that arrived before the Pahalgam attack.'
The price rise has also affected the consumption patterns of customers. Ramesh, a customer of M.S. Stores, Vijayanagar, expressed his concerns regarding the recent surge in saffron prices and its impact on his family's consumption. He noted that his elderly mother has relied on the addition of saffron to her milk daily; however, the price increase has made it challenging for them to continue this practice.
Stock stuck in Kashmir
Kursheed Ahmed Dar, a Kashmiri dry fruit trader based in Srinagar, said that loads of produce were stuck in Kashmir, without a way to reach Delhi, so it can be distributed to the rest of the country. He urged the government to resolve the impasse soon and help the locals to make an honest living. While demand continues to grow across the country, the inability to access markets has left farmers and traders in Jammu and Kahsmir in a state of uncertainty. Mr. Dar lamented it may take several years to recover the losses they have incurred this year.
