K'taka plans to increase sandalwood cultivation

The Karnataka Forest Department is planning to expand sandalwood cultivation in a big way in the Malnad region to meet the burgeoning demand for medical use, oil extraction, making agarbathis and handicraft. It is set to plant 12,000 kg of seeds in the 2008 monsoon season, up from 9,200 kg in 2004.

Speaking at the national seminar on 'Conservation, Improvement, Cultivation and Management of the Sandal Specie' here on Wednesday, A K Verma, Karnataka's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, said, "About 1,500 hectares are under commercial sandalwood cultivation and a detailed plan to take up cultivation of another 1,000 hectares more annually is being prepared."

Verma recalled: "The country was the largest exporter of sandalwood till five years ago. But, due to large-scale exploitation, the production shortfall led to Australia and Indonesia taking the top slot. Now, by addressing commercial cultivation we may be able to regain our past glory."

Suresh Gairola, Director, Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), warned that "due to large-scale exploitation, the gene pool is being affected. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu contribute around 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the production of sandalwood. A remedial measure is urgently required. The institute is experimenting with introducing it in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Initial findings are encouraging."

According to V S Venkatesha Gowda of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL), "The present annual production of sandalwood, according to the forest department, exceeds 3,000 tonnes and oil production is 120-150 tonnes. However, these figures do not match the official figures. Domestic industries consume about 80 tonnes of sandal oil and handicrafts industries consume 15-20 per cent of the total wood production."

The forest department has identified the forest areas of Shimoga, Sagar, Bhadravati, Kumta and parts of the Mysore-Chamarajanagar belt for planting mainly to help the handicraft industries there. The state government had allocated Rs 50 lakh towards procurement of seeds and planting in 2007-08. For 2008-09, a proposal for Rs 1 crore is being prepared, he further added.

To further the initiative, the Karnataka Forest Department is stepping up the production at key nurseries.

The department has about five hectares of sandalwood plantation at Nallal near Hoskote and 10 hectares of naturally-grown sandal area in the R D Halla Forest in Hassan district.

The seeds from these area are to be processed at Bangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Dharwad and then supplied to the forest areas.