Law killing sandalwood in Karnataka

Draconian regulations and the failure to maintain the extent of area under sandalwood cultivation, let alone increasing it, has turned the situation for the worse. Karnataka claims to be the home of sandalwood and sandal oil. An exporter of the golden oil once, now imports it from other states today.

Realising the shortfall in sandalwood availability and its cultivation Karnataka, a few months ago partially liberalised the monopoly over the cultivation and ownership of the fragrant tree, a tree that fetched the erstwhile princely state of Mysore valuable foreign exchange.

The Karnataka government announced that those who cultivate the sandalwood tree would also be its owners. However, very few have taken to its cultivation because of the still rigid regulations and fear of thefts of the trees, by thieves who ruthlessly cut and carry away the wood because of its high value in the market.

"Today, we receive offers for the supply of sandalwood powder from China. The sandalwood trees from which oil is extracted, is grown in Australia. Though the oil content there is comparatively lesser, they have developed a process to extract oil when the tree reaches the age of ten. Sandal oil is coming to the state from Rajastan and Khanauj," says an agarbathi manufacturer.

"If those states and countries can grow sandalwood trees and supply oil and powder to us, what prevents our state from going in for large scale cultivation," he laments reminiscing on how the Mysore maharajas encouraged its cultivation across the old Mysore state.

During Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, Mysore could boast of two sandalwood oil factories, one at Mysore and the other at Shimoga, which not only met the requirements of the agarbathi and perfume manufacturers, but also exported the oil abroad. The then state had a special High Commissioner in London to market the oil.

"Sandalwood trees have more or less near extinction in Karnataka. They have to be rejuvenated," says former vice-president of All India Agarbathi Manufacturers' Association Ramakrishna, explaining the scenario in the state.

"What is required on the part of the state government is to do away with the draconian regulations which have prevented sandalwood cultivation. These regulations were framed long ago and serve no purpose today. When the trees are becoming extinct where is the need for such laws," he wonders.

Speaking to Business Standard, Ramakrishna says, "It is these stringent laws that prevent people from growing sandalwood trees. They are afraid of taking risks and facing prosecution. If the government is sincere in its efforts to popularise its cultivation, it should liberalise its cultivation by allowing it on agricultural lands and plantations, like teakwood. The growers should have ownership rights over the tree. Only then can Karnataka regain to its past glory as the home of sandalwood. Otherwise, even what little we have will be lost," the leading agarbathi manufacturer warns.

A parasite tree, sandalwood grows naturally in the forests, with birds spreading its seeds. While artisans use its wood for carving, the oil is in demand by agarbathi, perfume and soap manufacturers, apart from medicinal purposes. After extraction of oil from the wood, the waste powder is used for making agarbathi.