Sandalwood cultivation seminar - Cauvery Calling has nurtured the idea of planting trees in the minds of Farmers
Isha’s Cauvery Calling movement today conducted a tree-based agriculture seminar titled 'Profiting in Crores through Sandalwood Cultivation for the Commonman' today in Palladam, Tirupur on October 15. Approximately 3,000 farmers from across Tamil Nadu participated in this seminar, which was hosted on a 50-acre sandalwood farm belonging to pioneering farmer Duraisamy in Muthandipalayam village, Palladam, Tiruppur district.
"Isha has raised awareness about tree-based agriculture," Shri. Chellamuthu, President of the State Agriculture Association, commends the Cauvery Calling Movement.
"Isha has nurtured the idea of planting trees in the minds of farmers. Without an organization like Isha taking such an initiative, the awareness about tree-based agriculture would not have reached the extent we see in Tamil Nadu today," remarked Thiru K. Chellamuthu, the President of the State Agriculture Association, during a seminar on cultivating sandalwood trees, which drew the participation of over 3,000 farmers.
Isha’s Cauvery Calling movement today conducted a tree-based agriculture seminar titled 'Profiting in Crores through Sandalwood Cultivation for the Commonman' today in Palladam, Tirupur on October 15. Approximately 3,000 farmers from across Tamil Nadu participated in this seminar, which was hosted on a 50-acre sandalwood farm belonging to pioneering farmer Duraisamy in Muthandipalayam village, Palladam, Tiruppur district.
Highlighting the achievements of pioneer farmer Duraisamy, Thiru K. Chellamuthu explained, “The owner of this place planted sandalwood trees 15 years ago, and now in the next five years he is poised to turn into a millionaire. If a seminar of this kind had taken place twenty or thirty years ago, Tamil Nadu farmers would not have been forced into debt. Therefore, to secure a prosperous and debt-free future for generations, farmers should wholeheartedly implement the methods recommended by the Cauvery Calling Movement."
Secretary of Vanam India Foundation, Shri. Sundarrajan, noted, “Isha’s Cauvery Calling Movement and Vanam India Foundation are working with the sole objective of increasing the green cover of Mother Earth.”
Thiru. Thamizhmaaran, the Field Coordinator of the Cauvery Calling Movement, explained the existing opportunities in the cultivation of sandalwood trees.
He stated, "Sandalwood is one of the most valuable trees globally. Through the cultivation of this tree, farmers have the potential to earn a minimum of Rs 2 lakh per tree after 15 years and between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh after 25 years. Sandalwood can thrive in various soil types and can even grow in saline conditions."
"Despite the numerous benefits of this tree, many people are reluctant to cultivate it due to concerns about theft. However, in today's technological age, a range of advanced tools such as microchips, sensors, and radar technology are now available. In the coming 15 years, even more devices will become accessible. So farmers should come ahead and plant sandalwood without any fear.”
"Indian sandalwood holds significant global market value. In the 1950s, we exported about 4,000 tons of sandalwood abroad and earned substantial revenue. However, at present, we are even importing sandalwood from foreign countries to meet our domestic needs. Therefore, there is a high demand for sandalwood, and local farmers need to cultivate more sandalwood trees to address this demand" he observed.
"Legal problems regarding the cutting and selling of sandalwood are also gradually disappearing. Even the recent amendment introduced by the central government states that none of the forest laws apply to agricultural lands. With this change, farmers can grow and sell any type of tree they want on their land. Therefore, sandalwood cultivation presents a significant opportunity for farmers to become millionaires" added Thiru. Thamizhmaaran.
In this seminar tree based agricultural scientists and pioneer tree farmers from the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra participated and offered advice to the farmers on various topics.
In particular, Dr. Sundararaj, a retired scientist from IWST, Bengaluru, spoke in detail about all the important aspects of sandalwood from planting to selling. Forest officer from Kerala Mr. Vinod Kumar expanded on the global demand of sandalwood, and Karaikudi farmer Mr. Raman explained the ‘Redwood Farming in Rainfed Lands'.
Apart from this, pioneer sandalwood growers Dr. Kavita Mishra (Karnataka), Mr. Istarappu Reddy (Telangana), Ramesh Paludaki (Karnataka), pioneer sandalwood cultivator Mr. Duraisamy and others also shared their experiences.
