The Jammu & Kashmir Poplar Farming Association (JKPFA) is the first organisation in India to earn NCCF/PEFC TOF Certification, uniting 168 smallholder farmers across 116.96 hectares of farmland in the Kashmir Valley.
A community of responsible poplar farmers
Poplar trees play a crucial role in India’s pencil manufacturing industry. Grown predominantly on farmlands, these trees are harvested without requiring cutting permits from forest departments, as they fall outside the traditional forest classification.
In Pulwama village, famously known as the “Pencil Village of India”, poplar farming has long been an economic lifeline.
Farmers plant poplars either in block plantations or along farm boundaries, integrating them into agricultural landscapes without displacing food crops.
Through JKPFA, farmers have established a cooperative system that allows them to procure, process, and sell poplar wood directly to manufacturers. The association collectively manages the conversion of harvested logs into wooden slats – the essential raw material for pencil production.
Creating local value through certification
The NCCF/PEFC TOF Certification brings transparency, traceability and credibility to JKPFA’s operations.
It assures buyers that the wood used in their products comes from sustainably managed tree farms, empowering both farmers and manufacturers to make responsible sourcing decisions.
This certification not only enhances market access for smallholders but also promotes economic resilience, job creation, and community empowerment. Poplar farming now serves as a sustainable income source, reducing dependency on traditional agriculture while contributing to environmental restoration and carbon sequestration.
HPPL: Enabling a sustainable supply chain
Hindustan Pencils Pvt. Ltd. (HPPL), one of India’s leading pencil manufacturers, has been a driving force behind this transformation. Recognising the importance of responsible sourcing, HPPL partnered with JKPFA to help smallholders transition toward sustainable certification.
HPPL played a pivotal role in:
- Organising farmers into formal groups.
- Building capacity and technical understanding of certification requirements.
- Supporting documentation and audits throughout the certification journey.
Through this collaboration, HPPL demonstrated how private sector leadership can strengthen sustainable supply chains while creating long-term value for communities.
A model for the future
JKPFA’s achievement sets a powerful example for community-led sustainable forestry in India. It shows that smallholders, when organised and supported, can achieve certification, access responsible markets and contribute meaningfully to both local livelihoods and global sustainability goals.
By extending the reach of PEFC certification to Trees outside Forests, India is embracing an inclusive model of forest stewardship – one that recognises every tree, whether in a forest or on a farm, as part of the planet’s natural capital.
