📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Manoj nav (talk)
Agriculture
Bihar migrants tending apple orchards in Kashmir's valleys
✍️ Deccan Herald
🗓 15 Sep 2026, 10:45 AM
👁 12
A group of men originally from Bihar have settled in Kashmir, working among the region's famed apple trees and contributing to local horticulture.
Several men who hail from Bihar have made their homes in the apple‑rich valleys of Kashmir. They live and work alongside local growers, tending the orchards that form a vital part of the region's economy. Their presence reflects a pattern of inter‑state migration where labour moves to areas with seasonal agricultural demand.
These workers have adapted to the high‑altitude climate and have become part of the local community, sharing techniques and learning from Kashmiri horticulturists. While they continue to maintain ties with their home state, their daily routine now revolves around pruning, harvesting and caring for the apple trees that dominate the landscape.
Local authorities note that such migrant labour supports the apple sector, which remains a key export for Jammu and Kashmir. The men from Bihar, though far from home, contribute to sustaining the productivity and reputation of the region's orchards.
These workers have adapted to the high‑altitude climate and have become part of the local community, sharing techniques and learning from Kashmiri horticulturists. While they continue to maintain ties with their home state, their daily routine now revolves around pruning, harvesting and caring for the apple trees that dominate the landscape.
Local authorities note that such migrant labour supports the apple sector, which remains a key export for Jammu and Kashmir. The men from Bihar, though far from home, contribute to sustaining the productivity and reputation of the region's orchards.