Srinagar, Feb 1: The Zainakadal Copper Dealers Association, in collaboration with the Shehr-e-Khas Traders Alliance, on Sunday organised a joint programme in Srinagar to deliberate on the challenges faced by Kashmir’s traditional copperware industry and ways to sustain it in a rapidly changing market.

Participants at the programme expressed serious concern over the declining fortunes of the age-old craft, stating that the industry is under threat due to rising competition from machine-made products, particularly low-cost “Murabada” items flooding local markets. Traders said these factory-produced goods are being sold at prices with which handcrafted Kashmiri copper products cannot compete, putting artisans and small businesses under severe pressure.
Speakers emphasised that the purpose of the meeting was not merely to discuss day-to-day business practices, but to highlight the larger issue of safeguarding a traditional industry that forms an integral part of Kashmir’s cultural and economic heritage. They warned that without timely intervention, the copper craft, which has been passed down through generations, risks extinction.
The traders urged the government to come forward with a composite and comprehensive policy to protect and revive the sector. Suggestions included regulating the influx of machine-made substitutes, providing financial and marketing support to artisans, ensuring access to modern tools without compromising traditional craftsmanship, and promoting authentic Kashmiri copperware through branding and certification.
Members of both associations stressed that saving the copper industry would not only preserve a heritage craft but also secure livelihoods for hundreds of families in Srinagar’s downtown areas, where the trade has historically thrived. They called for sustained dialogue with policymakers to ensure that traditional industries are not sidelined in the face of mass-produced alternatives.