Need to promote sandalwood cultivation stressed

U.V. Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority, has expressed concern that the Forest Department had not bothered to promote cultivation of sandalwood and ‘rakta chandan’ (red sanders), though the two rare species were on the verge of extinction.

It is ironical that India had imported over 5,000 metric tonnes of sandalwood from Australia in the past, he said and urged the Forest Department, Agriculture and Horticulture Departments to impress upon the farmers to grow sandalwood and ‘rakta chandan’ at least on the bunds in their fields, he said.

Participating at a farmers’ convention organised as part of “Moolika Dasara” here on Saturday, Mr. Singh stressed the need for growing sandalwood particularly in Mysuru.

He noted that there was huge international demand for sandalwood, with its fragrant heartwood priced between Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 15,000 per kilo.

The CEO further said that growing sandalwood was no more an offence as the government had lifted the ban and added that the government should remove other restrictions which are dissuading people from growing trees.

Mr. Singh called upon the farmers to cultivate sandalwood trees in their fields and said that a sandalwood tree is as good as keeping huge amount of money as fixed deposit in a nationalised bank. C. Shikha, Deputy Commissioner, underlined the importance of cultivating medicinal plants and said that many ailments could be treated successfully through herbal treatments.