Annual production shrinks to a low of 7%
Raw material shortage hits Kashmir walnut industry
Rashid Paul (Rising Kashmir)
Srinagar: Raw material scarcity and indifference from youngsters to take up walnut wood carving is pushing the heritage craft of Kashmir on the precipice of disappearance.
Walnut wood items, which contributed more than Rs 375 crore to the total handicrafts of Rs 1500 crore produced annually has shrunk to just Rs 25 crore, says Syed Shakil Qalander, president, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK). The sector is totally unorganized and none from the younger generation is ready to take up the art of wood carving. “The heritage craft of Kashmir is vanishing fast,” he said.
He is confirmed by Hamid Punjabi, chairman of M Sidiq & Sons, a noted walnut manufacturer and exporter from Kashmir. Hamid said, “The archival laws from the Dogra autocracy continue to regulate the walnut wood extraction in Kashmir.” It is increasingly becoming difficult to acquire raw material for the industry. Instead the police always hunt for walnut wood traders, he adds.
Hamid also the spokesman of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an apex trade body said many times the issue was brought to the notice of the government, but things remain unchanged till today.
The forest lessees used to provide wood to us but since State Forest Corporation took over the wood extraction the shortage has become a normal phenomenon. The supply contraction has affected wood craft production with exports receiving the most hit. An SFT of Walnut is available at Rs 1600 to Rs 2000.
FCIK president sees light at the end of the dark alley. “The local market for walnut wood items has appreciably surged and manufacturers and dealers are not able to meet the demands due to non availability of raw materials,” he said.
Urging for accessible raw material he suggests organization of artisans so that they are able to establish their own manufacturing units. As most of them are illiterate government needs to approach them and provide them hassle free loans. Training centers should be established to impart training to youngsters along with a stipend, supported by marketing facilities.