'Gandhada Gudi' (The Temple of Sandalwood) was how Karnataka was once described because of its abundant sandalwood trees. But now things have taken a turn for the worse with the forest department even lacking quality saplings of the tree, leaving farmers interested in taking up sandalwood cultivation in the lurch.
This was revealed by P Ravi Kumar, additional chief secretary, forest department, at a national meet of sandalwood growers in the city on Wednesday. Many farmers from across the state, who attended the meet, complained that whenever they approach the department nurseries for sandalwood saplings, officials turn them away, saying they are facing a shortage and the available ones lack quality.
Ravi Kumar agreed with the farmers and said the matter has come to his notice as well. "We are in the process of procuring quality seeds from some old trees in the forests of Karnataka and elsewhere to increase the number of sandalwood saplings in our nurseries," he said.
Though Kumar attributed the shortage to a decrease in demand for sandalwood cultivation over the years, farmers say otherwise. B H Balareddy, a farmer from Bagalkot, said, "There are a lot of restrictions on farmers growing sandalwood. Not getting enough support for raising plantations and restricted market space are factors worrying farmers, though many are eager to take up sandalwood cultivation," he added.
Commenting on the shortage of saplings, M R Kodanda Ram, chairman, Sandalwood Society of India, said their repeated pleas have not yielded any results.
"From the Society side, we are procuring some quality seeds and saplings from Marayoor in Kerala and have plans to raise some five lakh saplings in the current financial year," he added.
This was revealed by P Ravi Kumar, additional chief secretary, forest department, at a national meet of sandalwood growers in the city on Wednesday. Many farmers from across the state, who attended the meet, complained that whenever they approach the department nurseries for sandalwood saplings, officials turn them away, saying they are facing a shortage and the available ones lack quality.
Ravi Kumar agreed with the farmers and said the matter has come to his notice as well. "We are in the process of procuring quality seeds from some old trees in the forests of Karnataka and elsewhere to increase the number of sandalwood saplings in our nurseries," he said.
Though Kumar attributed the shortage to a decrease in demand for sandalwood cultivation over the years, farmers say otherwise. B H Balareddy, a farmer from Bagalkot, said, "There are a lot of restrictions on farmers growing sandalwood. Not getting enough support for raising plantations and restricted market space are factors worrying farmers, though many are eager to take up sandalwood cultivation," he added.
Commenting on the shortage of saplings, M R Kodanda Ram, chairman, Sandalwood Society of India, said their repeated pleas have not yielded any results.
"From the Society side, we are procuring some quality seeds and saplings from Marayoor in Kerala and have plans to raise some five lakh saplings in the current financial year," he added.