Supply concerns mount among pencil manufacturers in Kashmir due to dwindling poplar tree population
In a concerning development, pencil manufacturers in Kashmir are grappling with the potential impact of a large-scale felling of poplar trees that began in 2020 and continues to date. The industry, which has gained national attention with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting its success stories, relies heavily on poplar wood for its light weight, softness, and ease of sharpening.
Between 2020 and 2025, approximately 6,33,000 Russian poplar trees have been cut down near canal banks and along the Jhelum River. This massive deforestation has sparked fears of raw material shortages among pencil manufacturers, who supply pencil slates to leading brands such as Hindustan Pencils, the maker of Natraj and Apsara.
Manzoor Ahmad Allie, a factory owner, has voiced his concern about the potential raw material shortage. He suggests that farmers should be allowed to grow poplar trees on the canal banks, as it provides them with a steady source of income.
Despite a stay order issued by the High Court in 2020, local industry stakeholders claim that tree felling continues. The felling of trees continues unabated, and people seem less inclined to plant new Russian poplars.
The continued felling of trees has raised concerns not only for the pencil manufacturing industry but also for the timber sector and the environment. An industry expert has expressed concern about the long-term implications of this deforestation.
In addition to the economic impacts, there are also health concerns associated with the Russian poplars. A 2017 study by Sri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar found that common grasses, pine, and chinar trees triggered allergic reactions in a higher percentage of the population than pollen from Russian poplars.
Despite these concerns, poplars grown in the Valley are preferred for their soft texture, making them ideal for pencil wood. In 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered the removal of Russian poplars due to health concerns. However, in 2020, the High Court stayed its own order regarding the mass cutting of female poplar trees, which were estimated to number between 16 and 20 million.
The article was published on July 29, 2025, and it does not contain any new self-contained facts relevant to the topic. However, it underscores the urgent need for local studies or industry reports to understand the precise impact of this large-scale felling of poplar trees on the pencil manufacturing industry in Kashmir from 2020 to 2025.
Around 10 to 12 pencil manufacturing units operate from the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) in Lassipora, Pulwama, and the fate of these units hangs in the balance as the large-scale felling of poplar trees continues.
- The pencil manufacturing industry, a notable sector with national recognition, faces the potential impact of raw material shortages due to the large-scale felling of poplar trees in Kashmir.
- This industry heavily depends on the light weight, softness, and easy sharpening nature of poplar wood, making it ideal for pencil slates produced by leading brands.
- Between 2020 and 2025, approximately 6,33,000 Russian poplar trees have been cut down, resulting in fears of raw material shortages among manufacturers.
- Despite a stay order issued by the High Court in 2020, local industry stakeholders claim that tree felling continues unabated, causing concerns for the timber sector and environment.
- An industry expert has expressed concern about the long-term implications of this deforestation and the need for research or studies to understand its precise impact on Kashmir's pencil manufacturing industry.
- In addition to economic consequences, there are also health concerns associated with Russian poplars, as a 2017 study found that common grasses, pine, and chinar trees trigger allergic reactions to a higher degree than pollen from Russian poplars.
- Ten to twelve pencil manufacturing units located at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) in Lassipora, Pulwama are at risk due to the continuing large-scale felling of poplar trees, necessitating further investigation into the issue.
