Kashmir’s ₹700-crore cricket-bat industry seeks willow supply lifeline

Kashmir’s 400–450 cricket-bat manufacturers, concentrated in Anantnag, are seeking tougher action on alleged willow-cleft smuggling and expanded plantations as raw-material shortages raise costs. The sector produces about 1.5 million bats annually and is pursuing government follow-up on replantation and supply controls.

— Filed Wed, 29 Jul, 2026, 18:54 IST · Source The Hindu BusinessLine · Updated

Kashmir’s ₹700-crore cricket bat sector seeks stricter enforcement against willow-cleft smuggling and expanded tree plantations. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed replantation measures, as raw-material shortages raise costs for 400-450 local manufacturers, concentrated in Anantnag.

Why this matters

No related recent signals are provided. The supply shortage establishes a baseline for tracking cost pressure, willow availability and policy action across Kashmir’s cricket-bat manufacturers.

Retail-company signals are accelerating, up +408033% QoQ.