'Restrictions on harvesting sandalwood should be lifted'

Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, G M Siddeshwara, urged the sandalwood growers to seek security for their crops from the government and not subsidy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Sandalwood Society of India (SWSI) in the City on Saturday, Siddeshwara said that many farmers did not chose to cultivate sandalwood for security reasons. “It is best known for its commercial value. Yet, cultivators feared theft of trees and the expenses involved in keeping security.”

He said there was a need to relax norms and expedite the process of granting permission for harvesting trees.
Quoting an example where permission is due for over seven months to harvest a sandalwood tree, the minister said, “Ideally, the farmers must be granted permission to harvest the crop within 15 days after he seeks due clearances for the same.”

 Kodanda Ram, chairman, SWSI, said, “India was once used to produce 99 per cent of the total sandalwood oil generated, but there has been a decline in the trend. The country is importing 50 to 100 tonnes of sandalwood to meet the growing demand.

“Between 1930 and 1950, at least 4,000 tonnes of sandalwood was produced. Presently, the production has come down to a meagre 300 tonnes,” he said.
Ram said: “Karnataka was once the largest exporter of sandalwood in pre-independent India. Now, the situation is alarming. As against 3,000 tonnes in the 1970s, the State is producing just 30 tonnes now,” he added.