Recognition of Kashmir Willow cricket bats: A welcome move

By
Ziraat Times
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By: Ziraat Times Editorial Board 

The government’s recent decision to officially classify Kashmiri willow-made cricket bats as a notified handicraft is a welcome move. This decision is not just a recognition of the amazing craftsmanship involved in creating these bats from raw Kashmir willow but also a major source of livelihood for thousands of families working throughout the cricket bat supply chain.

For decades, Kashmir’s cricket bat industry, particularly concentrated in South Kashmir’s Sangam and Awantipora areas, has been globally recognised for the finest quality willow bats. Crafted from locally grown willow and honed through painstaking manual techniques, these bats are now widely celebrated for their durability and performance, rivalling the once-dominant English willow bats. Yet, despite their high quality, Kashmiri bats have often been overshadowed by international competitors and mass-produced alternatives.

By designating these bats as handicrafts, the government has taken a major step toward preserving their traditional methods of production. This recognition safeguards the meticulous manual labor and unique skills of Kashmiri artisans, ensuring that the heritage of bat-making is not lost to mechanization or market pressures. However, this should not inhibit mechanisation of the bat industry in Kashmir, which is facing stiff competition from factories based out of J&K and mass producing bats after procuring willow clefts from Kashmir.

This move could position Kashmiri bats for greater visibility in global markets, opening avenues for exports and branding them as premium products akin to Kashmiri shawls and carpets. Such branding should elevate the reputation of these bats but not compromise their mass-production competitive edge in international trade.

The cricket bat industry’s potential to generate employment in J&K cannot be overstated. Thousands of farmers and skilled workers in Kashmir depend on this trade for their livelihood. Increased demand, spurred by enhanced recognition and government support, should create more jobs and bolster the local economy. To maximize the impact of this decision, consistent government support is essential. Quality control mechanisms, adequate availability of raw materials, and financial assistance to small scale farmers must be prioritized to enhance the production of bats in Kashmir. Promoting the “Kashmiri bat” as a unique brand will further solidify its global standing.

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888 COMMENTS

  1. Do you know before 1947 around 1943 Sir Clutterbuck then last British aConservator Forests set up three 8ndustrires unit at Miranshaib RS Pura Jammu on Drug Reaserch Dactory .second Resin Factory and third on Willow Bat Factiry as government under taking.Dug unit rose of CSIReaserch centre at Jammu Resin factory was closed a few years back and third Bat unit was closed around sixties it foreign machinery was sold as scraps its land is under Police above it Bambo from Jasrota was main source of raw material for hockey sticks to Sailkote sports industry .Dhiyan Chand hockey stick is said to be from.Sailkote as these qere highly prefer.
    Why sport industry was beglected by the JK goverment is dye to.its discriminatory policy Sailkote sports industry started in 1903 thrives.

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