T. H. Masoodi , N. A. Masoodi , M. A. Islam , S. N. Zaffer , S. K. Chauhan

Abstract

Basketry is practised in Kashmir since a long time and several species are used for this work. Since 1918, Salix spp. introduced from England and France is also being used and cultivated in several areas. Details of cultivating 'Oisers' as the willows are known here and the methods followed in basket making have been described. The tools used have also been indicated along with sketches of the baskets produced from the willows. Economics of cultivating willows has also been worked out. Several constraints e.g., semi-professionalism in basket making, scarcity of raw material, lack of capital for investment, in-depth study about commercial viability of willows, post-harvest technology have been pointed out. The authors have suggested that this industry can prosper in future only if more land is brought under cultivating willows, basket weavers are suitably trained, modern designs and technology adopted and the products suitably advertised encouraging use of the products nationally and internationally.

Keywords

Basketry, Jammu & Kashmir, Introduced Willows, 'Oiser' Willows, Cultivation,
Economics

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A. S. Dogra , Anoop Upadhyay , S. C. Sharma , S. K. Chauhan

Abstract

State-wise assessment of forest/tree cover shows an almost constant trend in the extent of forest/tree cover in most of the States and Union Territories over the last one and a half decades. The only possibility of increasing tree cover lies in promoting tree growing outside forests, particularly in the vast tracts of Culturable Non-Forest Area (CNFA), estimated to be around 66 % of the country's total geographical area. Punjab, with a forest and tree cover of only 6.33 per cent has about 84 per cent of its land under agricultural use. Diversification from intense and over-exhaustive agriculture is needed, which is not only depleting soil of its nutrients and lowering ground-water table crops but also proving to be an environmental hazard as well because of indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. This requires technological and policy interventions in critical areas thereby offering to the farmers practical, viable and economically attractive alternate land use options. Agroforestry offers a better livelihood strategy to farmers due to relatively low input costs, flexible labour requirements, higher profitability, diversity of income sources, and more negotiating power at marketing stage than with annual crops. Interest in trees is higher with increasing opportunity cost of labour. Tree-crop combinations have been found to give better economic returns than trees or annual crops alone. This paper analyzed the yields and economic returns from poplar, clonal Eucalyptus, which are fast emerging as the most preferred tree species for agroforestry and also the prospects of Teak for plantation on farmlands. The yields and returns are based on the data collected from sample plots of poplar and teak laid out in the different agro-climatic zones in Punjab. Analysis for clonal Eucalyptus is based on a study by Haryana Forest Department and a four years old trial by Pragati Biotech in Punjab.

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