Encouraged by the princely sums quoted in the global auction of red sanders logs, there is a marked increase in the number of people evincing interest in growing the trees in their backyard.
The Forest Department has readied one crore saplings of various plant species to be planted in Chittoor district during Vana Mahotsavam in the first half of July, with red sanders figuring strongly among them.
Significant rise
“There is a significant rise in demand for red sanders saplings,” said Divisional Forest Officer (social forestry) M. Yogaiah.
“Teak and red sanders are meant for farm bunding under agro-forestry, but there are more takers for the latter this year,” he added. Farmers are not discouraged by foresters’ advice that red sanders trees grown in fields may not yield quality wood with the rich grain found in trees growing naturally in the forest. The Forest Department in Chittoor has earmarked 40 lakh saplings of all varieties for planting in forest areas in Chittoor East, Chittoor West and Tirupati Wildlife Divisions.
This apart, the department’s social forestry wing has allotted a whopping 67.2 lakh saplings to be planted in non-forest areas, i.e., along highways, on tank bunds, in government compounds, schools and colleges.
‘Usiri’ (gooseberry), tamarind, blackberry, ‘kanuga’ (pongamia), gulmohar, nilagiri (eucalyptus), pomegranate, drumstick, custard, acacia, casuarinas and guava are the other plant species being readied for the social forestry initiative, both for avenue planting and household growing.
Unlike in the past, distribution of saplings will take place this year under the aegis of the Neeru Chettu programme, in which private entities are entitled to get saplings free of cost.
