Published On:Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Famed Kashmir willow runs out of wood
Flood hit bat industry ahead of World Cup
Srinagar: The recent floods have led to the huge destruction of Kashmir's famed cricket bat industry with manufacturers predicting damages up to 60 percent.
The manufacturers claim that maximum stocks of cricket bats were washed away by the floods while the machinery has also suffered huge damage.
"The cricket bat industry is in peril today and right now nothing is left with us. As the floods were of high magnitude in south Kashmir where all these industries are situated, all of our stocks have been destroyed by the floods. We need immediate rehabilitation otherwise this famed industry would be no more in coming years," said President,Kashmir Bat Manufacturers Association Nazir Ahmad Salroo.
As the world cup is scheduled in February 2015, the Bat Manufacturers this year were expecting the total export of about 16- 20 lakh cricket bats. "Right now 4-5lakh bats would be left with the bat manufacturers in whole of Kashmir. This season is considered to be the peak season for cricket bat industry as the world cup is scheduled in February next year. Further on Diwali festival we would witness huge sale of cricket bats but right now we have nothing to meet the growing demand of cricket bats," he added.
The Kashmir made cricket bats have a huge demand in different countries like India, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh.
Further the Cricket bat manufacturers are also skeptical of facing the dearth of raw material in coming years following the destruction of willow trees and stockpiles in recent floods.
"Damage to willow trees could equate to shortfall of millions of cricket bats in coming years. Even if we get a supply but the wood will be having black spots on it. Each willow tree takes 10 - 15 years
to grow that could be later used for manufacturing cricket bats. We are likely face dearth of raw material in future," said one of the manufacturer.
The manufacturers said that they would have to import raw material from England and other places which would also increase the prices of cricket bats.
"Kashmir willow is cheaper and it has no substitute. If we would import raw material from England or from any other place it will increase the prices," they said.
Srinagar: The recent floods have led to the huge destruction of Kashmir's famed cricket bat industry with manufacturers predicting damages up to 60 percent.
The manufacturers claim that maximum stocks of cricket bats were washed away by the floods while the machinery has also suffered huge damage.
"The cricket bat industry is in peril today and right now nothing is left with us. As the floods were of high magnitude in south Kashmir where all these industries are situated, all of our stocks have been destroyed by the floods. We need immediate rehabilitation otherwise this famed industry would be no more in coming years," said President,Kashmir Bat Manufacturers Association Nazir Ahmad Salroo.
As the world cup is scheduled in February 2015, the Bat Manufacturers this year were expecting the total export of about 16- 20 lakh cricket bats. "Right now 4-5lakh bats would be left with the bat manufacturers in whole of Kashmir. This season is considered to be the peak season for cricket bat industry as the world cup is scheduled in February next year. Further on Diwali festival we would witness huge sale of cricket bats but right now we have nothing to meet the growing demand of cricket bats," he added.
The Kashmir made cricket bats have a huge demand in different countries like India, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh.
Further the Cricket bat manufacturers are also skeptical of facing the dearth of raw material in coming years following the destruction of willow trees and stockpiles in recent floods.
"Damage to willow trees could equate to shortfall of millions of cricket bats in coming years. Even if we get a supply but the wood will be having black spots on it. Each willow tree takes 10 - 15 years
to grow that could be later used for manufacturing cricket bats. We are likely face dearth of raw material in future," said one of the manufacturer.
The manufacturers said that they would have to import raw material from England and other places which would also increase the prices of cricket bats.
"Kashmir willow is cheaper and it has no substitute. If we would import raw material from England or from any other place it will increase the prices," they said.
