From Drying Streams to Disappearing Willow: Climate Change Threatens Kashmir’s Cricket Bat Industry

South Kashmir’s willow trees once thrived along streams and wetlands, sustaining a century-old cricket bat industry that supports thousands of livelihoods. But rising temperatures, declining snowfall, and drying water bodies are rapidly reshaping the landscape.

This video explores how climate change is shrinking willow plantations—the vital raw material for Kashmir’s famous cricket bats. As streams dry up and soil loses moisture, farmers are increasingly reluctant to plant willow trees that take nearly two decades to mature.

The impact is already being felt by workers, farmers, and bat manufacturers across the region. An industry producing nearly 3 million bats a year and supporting around 1.5 lakh people now faces an uncertain future.

Experts warn that without policy support, sustainable plantation efforts, and climate action, Kashmir’s iconic willow bat industry could be pushed to the brink of extinction.

Watch the Youtube video here: