Sandalwood Revival Plan for Karnataka

Sandalwood Revival Plan for Karnataka

News –

• The Union Finance Minister announced a partnership between the Centre and States to boost sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing to restore India’s global market dominance.

Revival plan of sandlewood

• Objective: To restore the “glory of the Indian sandalwood ecosystem” by focusing on large-scale cultivation and addressing supply shortages.
• Current Supply Crisis: Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd. (KSDL) requires 7,000–8,000 tonnes of sandalwood annually, but domestic production currently meets only 30% of this deman
• Import Paradox: To cover the shortfall, Karnataka currently imports sandalwood oil from Australia. Ironically, Australia is producing this oil from native Indian sandalwood species they began cultivating 25 years ago.

Additional Information –  Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album)

• Known as “Liquid Gold” or Chandan, this is one of India’s most valuable commercial crops.
• Forest Type: It is primarily found in Tropical Deciduous Forests (Monsoon Forests).
• Biological Nature: It is a hemi-parasite (partial root parasite), meaning it derives some nutrients from the roots of host plants.
• Distribution: Found mainly in the Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, and states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
• Conservation Status: Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Key Threats: Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD), caused by phytoplasmas, is a major threat with no known cure.