IF RESTRICTIONS ON SANDAL WOOD GROWING WITHDRAWN, PEOPLE WILL HAVE BIG EARNING
Growing sandalwood by any individuals was prohibited until 2002. Now the restrictions are lifted and people are allowed to grow sandalwood subject to the conditions that it is illegal to cut and harvest the wood, use it or sell it in the open market. Permission is required from the state forest department, which sends it's officials to cut the tree and buy the sandalwood.
Now it is high time for the government to rethink to lift all restrictions for planting, using and selling sandalwood. Sandalwood must be one of the costliest wood on earth. It's cosmetic and therapeutic value have made it the most wanted wood in the world. The fragrance of the wood fetches Rs 10,000 per kg for even the small branch pieces. It is really a good source of Income for Indians. Soil and climatic conditions of South Indian states Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are ideal for large scale plantation of Sandalwood.
The restrictions imposed however, discourage people from entering into sandalwood growing. The present conditions attract unwanted people to sandalwood trees and cause threats to the growers. Growing sandalwood is not expensive. It needs good sunlight and can be grown without much of a care. The tree starts flowering in 7 years and the heart wood get fragrance in 10 years. Sandalwood tree grows to about 30 feet height and about 7 to 12 inches in diameter. It can be planted in big numbers in farms and small numbers in homes. It is easy to nurture the plants. If a sandalwood is planted when a child is born, it can fetch enough to cover the future educational expenses of the child when grown up.
Since there is acute shortage of sandalwood all over the world it would provide great economic advantage for us. The government may therefore consider all aspects of sandalwood growing without any restriction anywhere in the country. It will be advantageous for a good number of our population.
(Indebted to 1) Report in The Hindu by Hema Vijay on June 05, 2015, 2) different web sources for images and data)
K V George
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