Enviro News Asia, Kashmir — Smallholder poplar farmers in India’s Kashmir Valley have achieved a major milestone in sustainable forestry after the Jammu & Kashmir Poplar Farming Association (JKPFA) became the country’s first organization to obtain NCCF/PEFC Trees outside Forest (TOF) Certification. The certification brings together 168 smallholder farmers managing a total of 116.96 hectares of farmland.
The certification covers poplar trees cultivated on agricultural land, which are widely used as raw material for India’s pencil manufacturing industry. Unlike timber from state forests, poplar trees grown on farms fall outside traditional forest classifications and do not require harvesting permits from forest authorities.
Poplar farming plays a central economic role in Pulwama, a village widely known as the “Pencil Village of India.” Farmers integrate poplar cultivation into their agricultural systems by planting trees in block plantations or along field boundaries, allowing timber production to coexist with food crops.
Through JKPFA, farmers have established a cooperative production and marketing system that enables them to collectively manage harvesting, processing, and sales. The association oversees the conversion of harvested poplar logs into wooden slats, a key input for pencil manufacturing, allowing farmers to engage directly with buyers and strengthen their market position.
The NCCF/PEFC TOF Certification enhances transparency and traceability across JKPFA’s operations. The scheme provides assurance to buyers that the wood originates from sustainably managed tree farms, supporting responsible sourcing decisions and strengthening trust along the supply chain.
Certification has also expanded market access for smallholders while contributing to local economic resilience. Poplar farming now provides a stable and sustainable income source, supports job creation, and delivers environmental benefits, including landscape restoration and carbon sequestration.
A key partner in the certification process was Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading pencil producer. The company collaborated with JKPFA to help smallholders transition toward sustainable certification by organizing farmers into formal groups, building technical capacity to meet certification standards, and supporting documentation and audit processes.
The achievement positions JKPFA as a model for community-led sustainable forestry in India. It demonstrates that organized smallholders, supported by private-sector partnerships, can meet international sustainability standards, access responsible markets, and contribute to broader environmental and development goals.
By extending PEFC certification to Trees outside Forests, India is adopting a more inclusive approach to forest stewardship—one that recognizes the role of farm-grown trees in supporting livelihoods, sustainable supply chains, and global sustainability objectives. (*)
