Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema chairs a coordination meeting with scientists from ICFRE institutes at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima, on November 11. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, November 11 (MExN): Scientists from the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) have identified encouraging prospects for sandalwood cultivation in Nagaland, particularly in the State’s foothill areas, citing favourable soil and moisture conditions.
The findings were presented at a coordination meeting held at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima, on November 11, as the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change explores the potential for commercial cultivation of sandalwood and red sanders in collaboration with ICFRE.
As per a DIPR report, a team of scientists from ICFRE institutes had conducted field visits to different parts of Nagaland on November 10 to assess the growth of the two species, heartwood development in mature trees and the suitability of local soil and climatic conditions.
The team comprised scientists from the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru; Institute of Forest Biodiversity (IFB); and Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat. Dr Swapnendu Pattanaik, Director, IFB; Dr B N Diwakara, Scientist-F, IWST; Dr Satyam Bordoloi, Scientist-E, RFRI; and Dr Rakesh Kumar Prajapat, Scientist, RFRI, presented their findings and technical assessments.
The scientists observed that Nagaland’s foothill areas offer favourable prospects for sandalwood cultivation, with satisfactory heartwood development found in mature trees, the report said. Scientific findings from adjoining areas of Diphu were also cited in support of the assessment.
However, they stressed that successful cultivation would require scientific practices, including quality planting materials, appropriate spacing and suitable host plants, as sandalwood is a parasitic species dependent on host plants for growth and survival, it added.
Given its long gestation period, they recommended cultivating it on land unsuitable for other commercial crops.
On red sanders, the scientists noted that while the trees showed impressive physical growth under Nagaland’s climatic conditions, heartwood development remained slow and had yet to attain commercial quality. They advised caution in promoting the species among farmers and recommended further technical studies.
Charing the meeting, Y Kikheto Sema, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, directed the Department to conduct training and awareness programmes on scientific sandalwood cultivation, develop appropriate schemes and work towards a long-term policy for its cultivation and trade in the State.
He said commercial tree cultivation, alongside crops such as coffee, rubber, agarwood and teak, could generate rural employment and contribute to the State’s economy.
Sema also stressed that farmers should understand the science and long gestation periods involved before committing their limited land resources to sandalwood and red sanders plantations. He urged them to follow recommended cultivation practices and technical guidance from scientific institutions and the Department to ensure ecological sustainability and economic viability.
Cautioning against exaggerated claims and false promises by commercial nurseries, he underscored the need for farmers to procure quality planting materials and rely on scientifically validated information before taking up commercial plantations, the DIPR report highlighted.
