Kashmir Records Seven Consecutive Below-Normal Winter Snowfall Seasons

Kashmir has recorded seven consecutive winters with below-normal precipitation, weakening natural water storage systems, disrupting orchards and increasing pest outbreaks as warmer temperatures reshape the Valley's ecology and agriculture. Scientists report that temperatures in the Kashmir Valley have risen steadily over recent decades, with policy responses failing to keep pace with the environmental change.

Seven consecutive winters with below-normal snowfall have depleted Kashmir's natural water storage infrastructure, with rivers and irrigation systems that depend on seasonal snowmelt facing reduced and erratic flows. Reduced snowpack means that meltwater arrives earlier in the spring, with lower total volumes, disrupting irrigation schedules that have been calibrated to historical seasonal patterns over generations. Agricultural operations including apple orcharding, saffron cultivation and paddy farming are directly affected by the changed hydrological cycle.

Warmer winters are also altering the pest and disease dynamics of Kashmir's agricultural sector. Fruit orchards that previously benefited from cold winters suppressing pest populations are now experiencing more frequent infestations. Apple production, which is central to the regional economy and supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, is particularly exposed to this combination of reduced chill hours for flowering and increased pest pressure. Climate scientists have documented a measurable upward trend in Valley temperatures over the past several decades.

Experts warn that policy responses in Jammu and Kashmir have not matched the pace of environmental change. Investments in alternative water storage, climate-adaptive crop varieties, pest management systems and livelihood diversification are all identified as necessary but remain inadequately resourced. The state government and central agencies are under increasing pressure from farming communities and civil society to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation plan for the Kashmir Valley that addresses the interconnected challenges of water, agriculture and livelihoods.

Key figure — 7 consecutive winters of below-normal snowfall recorded in Kashmir Valley