Grow More Sandalwood : Cultivation of sandal wood

Grow More Sandalwood

The present position of Sandalwood in the Country has substantially declined due to over exploitation and deforestation of the forests by the vested interests.

As per the EMS Policy of the Company, coupled with the liberalized policy of the Government of Karnataka on Sandalwood, KS&DL started propagating the 'Grow More Sandalwood' programme. Now Buy-back arrangements (Annexure-A) was made with the farmers and entrepreneurs and they were encouraged to take up commercial cultivation of Sandalwood on 'Share & Prosper' basis along with other hostorial plants like chikku, amla, drumsticks, curry leaves, casurina, acasia, dalbargia latifolia, etc., which will substantially reduce the gestation period of Sandalwood for harvesting. This scheme will generate; massive rural employment, poverty alleviation, reduce global warming and increase the forest cover of Karnataka State and create a niche as 'Srigandhada Nadu', the Sandalwood State. This would help KS&DL for the sustainable supply of vital raw material and enable the country to regain the lost glory of the largest producer of Natural sandalwood oil and Sandalwood oil based products in the coming years. The momentum is picking up in India with the support from M/s. NMPB, New Delhi, NHM. So far more than 200 Farmers in the state have come forward for commercial cultivation of Sandalwood and entered into an MoU under buy back arrangements for over 2000 Acres.

Apart from the above, Institutions, Private Entrepreneurs, Public Sectors, Private Sector Companies are also showing keen interest for growing Sandalwood and buying sandal saplings. This momentum has been continuously growing in the entire region of the state of Karnataka and even spreading to the neighboring States like Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra.& Gujarat States. This movement not only conserves the endangered Santalum album species from the verge of extinction and to protect the environment. In the meantime, the Govt. of Karnataka permitted the KS&DL & KSHDC to purchase grown up Sandalwood trees directly from the 'owner' as defined under the Karnataka Forest

Rules vide Notification No.FEE 21 FSW 2008, dated: 11.07.2008 which includes purchase of the Sandalwood from public sector undertaking / defence, department /para military organizations on whose land the Sandalwood is cultivated or grown naturally, who are treated as 'owner' as per Rule 103 (CF) Karnataka Forest Rules 1969 (as amended). Accordingly, KS&DL had made an agreement as per Annexure B with the growers to purchase the Sandalwood trees directly as per the rate fixed by the Government of Karnataka from time to time. With the high quality governance to ensure fairness, accountability & transparency in all endeavor in procurement of sandalwood. Further, KS&DL & KSHDC entered into MoU for joint sourcing of Sandalwood as PSU's of the State for sustainable supply of sandalwood directly from the Growers, PSU's & Para Military Organizations. We are looking for natural grown up sandalwood for captive consumption for the mutual benefit of the Grower & KS&DL.

As a part of EMS Policy of the Company, KS&DL initiate action to replant sandalwood saplings along with the host plants after extraction of sandalwood trees from the growers land as a part of conservation and regeneration of the specie on sustainable basis with the co-operation of the Forest Department.

Agro-technology of cultivation of Sandalwood:

Nursery can be raised using FYM (Farm Yard Mixture), bio-fertilizers and wormy compost mixture which would give adequate nutrients for the developing seedlings. This has been proved else where for different agricultural crops. Since sandalwood plants are less effected by fungi and insects during the early stage of growth, pest control measures are not required.

It is mistaken belief that Sandalwood grown in natural forest conditions alone produce scented heartwood and Sandalwood grown in northern region would not produce scented heartwood. Sandalwood can be grown in variety of soil with pH ranging from 6 to 8 with temperature ranging from 5 to 50 C. It is not region specific and can adapt to different environmental conditions. The plantation grown trees with irrigation and bio-fertilization perform exceedingly well compared to natural forest conditions. In natural conditions Sandalwood tree takes more than 7

years to produce scented heartwood and its growth is restricted due to climatic factors, soil, vegetation, fire, grazing and human interventions. Under these stress conditions fully developed tree requires about 30 to 35 years for harvesting. Whereas the plantation grown trees with inter plantation with good hostorial plants will produce heartwood formation in about 3 to 4 years and develop good heartwood ranging in diameter from 15 cm to 25 cm in about 12 to 15 years. Harvesting at this age is much more economical and commercially viable.

The Sandalwood oil obtained at this age may range from 3 to 3.5 percent with good percentage of total santalol content. These results are based on the existing plantations of Indian Sandalwood in Australia. Timely irrigation, providing organic manure, soil working, pruning or training and inducting stress, providing good host plants are the important criteria for the good growth of Sandalwood. Sandalwood tree is partial root parasite, required another host trees by its side, through which it draws nutrient for its good growth.

Organic Farming:

Organic Farming is an approach that promotes this interdependence between nature and man in a sustainable way. Its in a way going back to the traditional methods of farming, organic Farming is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances, Agro-ecosystem health, Biodiversity, Natural biological cycles and Natural soil biological activity.

Organic Farming is necessary because, the Industrial farming/Intensive farming in its present form is inefficient and wasteful because it consumes and destroys more resources than it produces in the long run. The Problems created by the so-called Green revolution includes, reduced genetic diversity, increased vulnerability to pests, soil erosion, water shortages, reduced soil fertility, micronutrient deficiencies, soil contamination.

The main features of Organic Farming are:-

Avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides , growth regulators and livestock feed additives.

To the maximum extent feasible it relies upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks.

Uses aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilt to supply plant nutrients and to control insects, weeds and other pests.

Capable of maintaining their productivity & usefulness to society indefinitely. Must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive and environmentally sound.

Organic Farming and Sandalwood cultivation.

Sandalwood cultivation is a good candidate and a natural choice for Organic Farming with good hostorial inter plantation.

The focus is not on yearly yields, but rather over an extended period of time ranging upto 12 to 15 years, reduce the gesture period of harvesting.

It is not to a large extent dependent on fertilizers and pesticides. It is not to a large extent dependent on intensive irrigation facilities