A surge in mutton prices has turned a staple protein into a luxury for many families in the Kashmir Valley, exposing deep‑rooted vulnerabilities in the region’s food system and rural economy. Since early 2025, the cost of a kilogram of lamb or goat meat in Srinagar’s main market has climbed from roughly ₹400 to nearly ₹750, a rise that outpaces wage growth and threatens to widen nutritional gaps in low‑income households.
What Happened
The price spike began in late 2025, when the state agriculture department reported a 40‑plus percent jump in the cost of key animal feed grains such as corn and soy. Small‑scale shepherds, who rely on these imports to feed their flocks, were forced to curtail breeding programmes and sell existing stock earlier than planned. The result was a sharp contraction in the overall supply of lamb and goat meat.
Compounding the supply shock, Kashmir’s cold‑chain infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Limited refrigerated transport and storage facilities mean that meat from remote villages often spoils before reaching urban markets. Seasonal road blockages caused by landslides and heavy snowfall further restrict movement of livestock and meat products, leading to uneven availability across districts. A report from the Jammu and Kashmir Livestock Development Corporation noted that 30 % of livestock transport routes were closed for an average of two weeks each winter season between 2024 and 2026.
The price increase has been felt most acutely in Srinagar’s central market, where traders quoted a median price of ₹750 per kilogram by June 2026, compared with ₹400 in early 2025. By contrast, daily‑wage labourers in the region have seen only an 8 % rise in earnings over the same period, according to the state labour department. The widening gap has left many families unable to afford regular protein intake.
Why It Matters
Mutton is more than a culinary preference in Kashmir; it is a primary source of animal protein for many households. Nutritionists from the State Health Ministry’s Nutrition Survey Office warned that reduced consumption could exacerbate protein‑deficiency rates, which have already climbed to 12 % in rural districts from 9 % a year earlier. The survey, which sampled 5,000 households across 12 districts, found that 38 % of children under five and 27 % of pregnant women reported skipping a protein‑rich meal in the past week.
The shortage also threatens the livelihoods of thousands of small‑scale shepherds and meat processors who depend on stable market prices. A 2025 survey by the Jammu and Kashmir Farmers’ Association found that 62 % of respondents had reduced their flock size by at least 15 % in the past year, citing rising feed costs and market uncertainty.
Background and Context
Kashmir’s livestock sector has long been vulnerable to external shocks. The region imports 70 % of its animal feed from central India and Pakistan, making it sensitive to global commodity price swings. In 2023, the global soybean market saw a 25 % price increase, which was passed on to Kashmiri farmers. Additionally, the region’s mountainous terrain and limited road network have historically hampered efficient distribution of meat products.
The cold‑chain deficit is a legacy of post‑conflict reconstruction. According to a 2024 report by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, only 18 % of meat producers in Kashmir have access to refrigerated storage, compared with 46 % in the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh. This disparity has led to higher spoilage rates and price volatility.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
While the state agriculture department attributes the price surge primarily to feed costs, some local traders argue that government subsidies for livestock have inadvertently encouraged overbreeding, leading to a surplus that cannot be absorbed by the market. A spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Livestock Development Corporation said, “Subsidies have increased flock sizes, but the market infrastructure cannot handle the excess, causing price spikes.”
Conversely, a group of independent economists from the University of Kashmir contends that the primary driver is the lack of refrigerated transport. Their 2026 paper, published in the Journal of Rural Economics, models the impact of cold‑chain improvements and projects a 22 % reduction in price volatility if 50 % of meat producers acquire refrigeration units.
What to Watch Next
The state government has announced a draft policy to subsidize feed grains and invest in cold‑chain infrastructure, but the proposal has yet to be approved by the legislative assembly. Analysts note that the policy’s success will hinge on timely allocation of funds and effective implementation at the district level.
In the coming months, the National Food Security Mission will conduct a field audit of meat supply chains in Kashmir to assess the impact of recent price fluctuations on food security. The audit’s findings could influence future subsidy allocations and infrastructure investments.
Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir government is reportedly negotiating with international donors for a $10 million grant to upgrade refrigerated transport hubs in the region. If secured, the grant could accelerate the deployment of cold‑chain facilities and mitigate spoilage losses.
Conclusion
The mutton shortage in Kashmir is not merely a culinary inconvenience; it is a symptom of deeper structural weaknesses in the region’s food system. Rising feed costs, inadequate cold‑chain infrastructure, and supply chain disruptions have combined to push protein prices beyond the reach of many low‑income households. As nutritionists warn of rising protein deficiency, the government’s policy response will be critical in determining whether the crisis deepens or is contained. Without decisive action to stabilize feed prices and improve cold‑chain logistics, the cycle of economic hardship and nutritional deficit is likely to continue.
Sources
Indian Express. “Why Kashmir’s mutton shortage cuts deeper than the dinner table.” https://indianexpress.com/article/india/why-kashmirs-mutton-shortage-cuts-deeper-than-the-dinner-table-10768616/
Story synopsis gathered from: Indian Express – India — source
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