50% Drop in Supply of Willow Timber Hits 100-Year-Old Kashmiri Willow Cricket Bat Industry

FDT Bureau

FDT Bureau | 04 Feb, 2023 - More than 400 manufacturing units in Jammu and Kashmir are facing the threat of closing down due to the deepening crisis in the raw material of the 100-year-old Kashmiri willow cricket bat industry. More than one lakh workers associated with Rs 300 cr industry in the state are facing a grave crisis for livelihood.  The Cricket Bats Manufacturing Association of Kashmir has appealed to the state and central governments to save this industry. The quality of Kashmir's Willow Bat has also been recognized by the International Cricket Council.

Mr. Wasim from JK Sports Bat Manufacturer from Anantnag, Kashmir said, he has been running Kashmiri willow wood bat making unit for the last forty years. This is the first time that raw material has been short-lived on such a large scale. According to their demand, their units are getting less than 50 percent raw material, due to which further supply has to be drastically cut.

Willow timber is forest agro species, and it has only been harvested for the past two decades. There is no replantation. He added that it takes at least 20 years for this plant to be ready, due to which Kashmiri farmers are getting disillusioned with it. Poplar tree is ready within 5 years, so farmers are emphasizing more on poplar plantation instead of willow. 

Mr. Fawzul Kabir informed there are more than 400 small and big units in Kashmir, while in Jammu, there are around 50. More than one lakh skilled and unskilled workers are about 5000 families associated with this industry.

Due to shortage of raw material during the last three years, only 20 units are currently in operation. Small and big units associated with this industry need 5000 to 15,000 willow plants annually, while the supply is only around 50%. 

Deepak Kumar, a Meerut-based distributor associated with GR8 Sports Manufacturing Company that makes bats from Willow Timber, said that for the last 6 months, they are not getting even 20% of demand.

According to statistics, two decades ago, 2.5 lahks to 3 lakh bats were produced annually in Kashmir. At present, more than 30 lakh bats are being manufactured in the state annually.