Srinagar: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Friday directed the concerned departments to launch a coordinated drive to revive willow cultivation across Kashmir to ensure a sustainable supply of timber for the Valley’s cricket bat industry.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting on the challenges facing the willow sector and measures for its long-term revival.
The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sarvesh Rai, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani, and senior officials of the Forest Department and other departments.
Rana said Kashmir is the country’s only source of specialised willow wood used for manufacturing cricket bats and that the industry, concentrated largely in Anantnag district, provides direct and indirect employment to thousands of people.
Expressing concern over the declining availability of quality willow timber, the Minister attributed the shortage to indiscriminate felling of mature trees without adequate replantation, resulting in uncertainty in raw material supply and higher production costs.
He said the Forest Department should identify suitable low-lying and marshy areas across the Valley for expanding willow plantations in coordination with Deputy Commissioners.
The meeting decided that the State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) would introduce improved willow species and clones and ensure the availability of quality planting material to improve productivity.
Rana also directed the Agriculture Department to identify departmental farms and research blocks for raising quality willow planting material to support large-scale plantation drives.
The meeting discussed scientific management and expansion of government willow plantations, timely disposal of mature trees to improve raw material availability, streamlining permissions for felling and transportation of willow timber, and promotion of branding and Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for Kashmir willow bats.
The Minister directed the concerned departments to prepare and submit a time-bound action plan, stressing that revival of willow resources is essential for sustaining both the cricket bat industry and the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on it.
