Haryana: Kanwar Yatra-Induced Closure of Plywood Factories, Wood Markets in Yamunanagar Hits Growers

New Delhi: Poplar tree farmers in Haryana are a disappointed lot. With the commencement of the religious Kanwar Yatra on July 14, rates of poplar wood have witnessed a decline due to the announcement of closure of plywood factories and wood markets in Yamunanagar, Haryana.

Poplar wood is a species of wood most commonly used in the making of furniture, cabinets, wooden toys and plywood.

According to a report in The Tribune, The development has disappointed Poplar farmers of this region— which is considered to be the hub of poplar wood in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab - with farmers of this region supplying most of the Poplar wood to the plywood industry.

Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage on foot by devotees of Lord Shiva to the Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of the river Ganga.

A large number of the Kanwarias belonging to the Yamunanagar district and several other districts of Haryana and Punjab go to Haridwar to fetch the holy water and use the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur-Haridwar road, which is also used by most of the Poplar growers of Uttar Pradesh to supply their wood to the plywood industry of Yamunanagar in Haryana, says the report.

Because of the route of the Kanwars, the arhtiyas or commission agents have announced that the wood markets of Yamunanagar district situated in Mandauli and Manakpur villages will remain closed from July 18 to 27. However, plywood factories will remain closed from July 21 to July 25.

Some farmers told The Tribune that rates of poplar wood were up to Rs 1,450 per quintal till last week. But, since the announcement of the closure of plywood factories and wood markets, the rates have declined to Rs 1,350 per quintal — a fall of about Rs 100 per quintal.

“I bought poplar wood for Rs 1,350 per quintal today, but the rate was Rs 1,450 per quintal a few days ago,” an arhtiya dealing in poplar and eucalyptus wood told the The Tribune. Poplar growers said they wanted the Kanwar Yatra to take place smoothly, but the decline in poplar rates was affecting them.

Adding to their woes, JK Bihani, president of the Haryana Plywood Manufacturers Association, reportedly also told The Tribune that there was low demand for finished goods (ply, board and other items) in the market, as many areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra were witnessing a flood-like situation.

“Every year, our factories remain non-functional for some days during Kanwar Yatra. But this year, there is a low demand of our products due to several reasons, including the rainy season,” said JK Bihani.