SRINAGAR: The Government of India has clarified that while there is no dedicated scheme to financially or technically support cricket bat manufacturers in setting up their own willow plantations, efforts are underway to strengthen the industry through cluster-based development and skill training.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, stated that the Ministry does not operate any specific scheme targeting bat manufacturers for establishing willow plantations. The response came after MP Mr Pathan Yusuf inquired about government efforts to support the cricket bat manufacturing sector, especially through plantation support and farmer incentives.
Although no direct subsidies or procurement assurances are currently being offered to farmers for willow cultivation, the Ministry has approved a Common Facility Centre (CFC) under its “Micro and Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme” at the Cricket Bat Manufacturing Industry Cluster in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. This cluster is a major hub for traditional bat-making in India, relying heavily on Kashmir willow, a wood prized by cricketers across the globe.
Additionally, the Ministry’s MSME Technology Development Centre in Meerut has conducted several skill development training sessions for bat manufacturers and other sports goods producers, aimed at improving craftsmanship and encouraging innovation in the sector.
The clarification comes amid growing concern among bat manufacturers in Jammu and Kashmir over the long-term availability of willow trees, as well as the lack of structured incentives for plantation. Many in the industry have repeatedly called for government-backed initiatives to encourage local farmers to grow willow and ensure raw material sustainability for the region’s famed bat-making tradition.
The absence of any targeted scheme for willow plantation may raise concerns in Kashmir’s bat-making belt, where artisans and unit owners are grappling with rising costs and a changing market. However, the establishment of a Common Facility Centre is being seen as a positive step towards modernising infrastructure and providing shared resources for the largely MSME-based industry.
The cricket bat industry, centred around Anantnag, employs thousands and contributes significantly to the local economy, but stakeholders continue to seek broader policy support—including farm-level incentives—to ensure long-term viability.
