MYSURU: The Mysuru forest department’s sandal depot has earned close to Rs 6 crore revenue from the retail sale of sandal, so far during the year. Sandal trees from forests, collected from farmers or seized from smugglers, are put up for e-auction once a year. The demand for sandal has remained as usual since years. Sandalwood is mainly used to make incense sticks, sandal oil, ayurvedic medicine and handicrafts, apart from furniture.
Due to its high demand and non-availability, it is giving scope to smuggling of sandalwood. Some of the agencies that are growing sandal trees have protected them by putting up iron fences around the trees. Miscreants backed by smugglers are felling young sandal trees, before they mature into fully grown trees, across Karnataka.
Karnataka is the largest producer of sandalwood in India, and it was once known as the land of sandalwood. Today the government is making all efforts to increase its cultivation, and have started encouraging farmers and individuals to grow sandalwood.
Unlike other timber, sandalwood is sold based on its weight, rather than size. Deputy conservator of forests K C Prashanth Kumar said the sale of sandal logs by the forest department earned revenue of Rs 6 crore for them. Of the three sandal depots in Karnataka, Mysuru’s is the biggest. The other two are in Shivamogga and Dharwad. Every year, seasoned sandalwood is auctioned online, for which the demand is increasing.
There are about 18 different varieties of sandal that are grown in Karnataka. The best quality is sold for anywhere around Rs 20k per kilo, the DCF stated. Majority of our clients are incense stick manufacturers and oil extractors.
ST Somashekar, district minister of Mysuru, during his recent visit the Aranya Bhavana, the headquarter of forest department of Mysuru division that has one of the sandal depots of Karnataka and gathered information about demand for sandal logs.