The launch of the Sandalwood Development Committee’s report took place in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 15. The ceremony was hosted by the Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry (FIPPI) and was chaired by former Finance Secretary Ratan P. Watal. Key guests included representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Ayush, and the National Medicinal Plants Board. FIPPI’s president, Rajesh Mittal, who also serves as C&MD of Green Ply Industries, was among the attendees.
Ratan Watal, who led the committee, emphasized that sandalwood farming can boost rural jobs and bring in foreign exchange through exports. “India can be self‑reliant while meeting our society’s sandalwood needs today and tomorrow,” he said. The statement called for new measures and reforms by both central and state governments to restore India’s historic prominence in sandalwood.
The committee, which includes experts from the Institute of Wood Science and Technology in Bengaluru and the Forest College and Research Institute of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, held thorough consultations with stakeholders, especially state forest departments. These discussions helped shape a wide range of recommendations in the report aimed at developing sandalwood across the country.
By bringing together government ministries, research institutions, and industry leaders, the committee developed a roadmap to make sandalwood cultivation more profitable and sustainable. The plan focuses on increasing production, improving quality of sandalwood and its by‑products, boosting exports, and creating new employment opportunities in rural areas.
The launch event in New Delhi highlights the growing interest in sandalwood cultivation and the potential for Indian farmers and the plywood industry to benefit from a thriving sandalwood market. The report’s recommendations point the way for a future where India’s sandalwood sector is both economically vibrant and environmentally responsible.
Source: ianslive
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