Sandalwood biz sees positive turnaround

A long time ago, the Vaishnava temples used to give pearl size balls of sandal paste, which was worn on the forehead. But after Karnataka lost its sandalwood status because prices skyrocketed, devotees never got to wear the Srigandha tilaka again. This might change, as the ‘Gandhada Gudi’ (Citadel of Sandalwood) is ready to strike back and reclaim its title.

Syam Vishwanath of the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST) holds the key to this eventuality. IWST is carrying out a sandalwood propagation project, which will benefit all dry and moderate rainfall regions in India.

A tissue culture technology developed specifically for sandalwood propagation in the state has now become the source of the largest supplier of tissue culture saplings in the country, and saplings are being grown on a large scale. With the removal of the restrictions on growing and cultivation of sandalwood post the liberalisation period, it has become a “freely cultivable tree”.

Even many corporates, industries and co-operatives have started propagating sandalwood for as a commercial crop.

In conversation with dna, Vishwanath said: “In the past, the felling of sandalwood trees by smugglers became so rampant, that the indigenous need for sandalwood had to be met by imports.”

A good sandalwood tree will be mature enough to yield hard pulp and oil, for which the tree has to be no less than 11-12 years old, but the average age of the trees harvested today is only three-four years, he said.

“Only less than 1% of the sandalwood trees reach their maximum growth,” Vishwanath added.