Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed serious concern over the rising number of accidents during walnut harvesting in Kashmir, urging the administration to enforce strict safety protocols. Taking to social media, Mehbooba revealed that five lives have already been lost in 2025, while dozens have been left disabled and hundreds injured in walnut orchards across the Valley. She said poor farmers continue to “pay the price for being poor,” as they climb high walnut trees without protective gear or modern equipment. Highlighting the urgent need for intervention, she demanded that walnut merchants must ensure the availability of helmets, harnesses, safety nets, and non-slip boots, alongside introducing mechanical harvesters to reduce risks. She also called upon the district administration to conduct a mapping exercise of high-risk walnut trees, followed by selective cutting and the introduction of mandatory safety training for workers. Importantly, Mehbooba stressed that the elderly and physically unfit should not be forced to climb tall walnut trees unless it is under the supervision of local administration, revenue officials, or police authorities. Tagging the Office of the LG J&K and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, she urged all Deputy Commissioners in the Valley to strictly enforce these measures. Walnut harvesting remains a vital seasonal activity in Kashmir’s rural economy, but each year, tragic accidents claim lives due to the lack of proper equipment and professional training. Experts believe that mechanization and government-supported safety campaigns could drastically reduce fatalities. As the harvesting season continues, Mufti’s appeal has once again put the spotlight on the long-ignored safety challenges faced by Kashmiri farmers, raising fresh demands for policy reforms and accountability.