Kashmir’s famed cricket bat industry is facing a deep crisis as the production of willow, the key raw material used in bat-making, has declined sharply over the past few decades. 

Kashmir is the only region in India that produces willow suitable for making cricket bats and is home to around 400 to 450 bat manufacturing units clustered mainly in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The ₹700-crore industry produces around 1.5 million bats annually and supports thousands of people across farming, manufacturing and trade. 

But the industry representatives say that declining willow production has left the manufacturers  distraught and struggling to source quality wood, rendering some manufacturing units moribund.

“Willow production in Kashmir has declined by around 75 per cent over the last few decades,” said Fawzul Kabiir, Owner of GR8 sports and spokesperson of the Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir. 

“Seventy thousand trees are hacked every year, and farmers are no longer cultivating willow as they have switched to other lucrative alternatives.”

According to manufacturers, farmers are increasingly opting to grow poplar, which matures faster and offers quicker financial returns. A willow tree typically takes 20 to 25 years to reach maturity, while poplar can be harvested in about 8 to 12 years, making it a more attractive option for famers.

“Poplar gives returns in a much shorter time, so farmers prefer it over willow. This shift has severely impacted the availability of raw material for the bat industry,” Kabiir said, adding that he started willow plantation for his own unit. 

Bat makers say the shortage of local willow has also driven up costs, forcing some units to cut production or lay off workers. Smaller workshops, which lack the capital to stockpile wood or import alternatives, have been hit the hardest. The decline has come despite Kashmir bats gaining international recognition, with several players at the international level using locally made willow bats. 

Industry insiders say at least 37 international cricketers, both men and women, have used Kashmir willow bats, showing  their growing acceptance as an alternative to English willow.

“However, the industry’s future remains uncertain without policy intervention to revive willow cultivation,” said another manufacturer. 

He said that the government should encourage and incentivise farmers to grow willow . 

“If timely steps are not taken to encourage willow plantations, this traditional industry could vanish soon,” he added.

Published on January 16, 2026

The Thirssur-based South Indian Bank has registered a 9 per cent growth in its net profit in Q3 of FY26 at ₹374.32 crore against ₹341.87 crore in Q3 FY 2024-25.

The net profit of the bank for the 9 months has increased by 9 per cent to ₹1047.64 crore for December 25 when compared with ₹960.69 crore for December 24.

P.R.Seshadri, Managing Director & CEO said the bank’s well-defined strategy continues to underpin its strong business performance. The bank recorded healthy growth across all major segments – including Corporate, MSME, Housing, Auto and Gold loans – with a steadfast focus on maintaining asset quality.

In line with the strategic intent of achieving Profitability through Quality Credit Growth, the bank successfully on-boarded fresh advances with a low risk profile. This approach reflects the bank’s continued commitment to sustainable growth, prudent risk management and value creation for all stakeholders, he said.

The capital adequacy ratio stood at 17.84 per cent in December 2025, indicating a strong capital position, underscoring the bank’s sound capital management practices and capacity to support future business growth, he said.

Pre-Provisioning operating profit for quarter is up by 10 per cent from ₹528.84 crore in Q3 FY25 to ₹584.33 crore in Q3 FY26. Gross NPA reduced by 163 bps from 4.30 per cent to 2.67 per cent on Y-o-Y basis, while Net NPA dropped by 80 bps from 1.25 per cent to 0.45 per cent.

Retail deposit grew by ₹13,142 crore from ₹1,02,421 crore to ₹1,15,563 crore, an increase of 13 per cent. NRI deposit grew by ₹2,833 crore from ₹31,132 crore to ₹33,965 crore. CASA grew by 15 per cent with growth in Savings Bank by 14 per cent and Current Account by 20 per cent.

Gross advances grew by ₹9,798 crore from ₹86,966 crore to ₹96,764 crore, an increase of 11 per cent. Corporate segment went up by ₹3,397 crore from ₹34,956 crore to ₹38,353 crore, an increase of 10 per cent.

Published on January 16, 2026