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New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Sandalwood trees ‘bloom' in Alappuzha's Thamarakulam
ALAPPUZHA: The air of Thamarakulam (lotus pond), a village in Bharanikkavu block panchayat in Alappuzha, will be rich with the aroma of sandalwood are on to conduct large-scale farming of sandalwood trees in the panchayat, as the village, backed by farmers' cooperatives, strives towards becoming the second biggest sandalwood plantation in the state. Already, around 8,000 sandalwood saplings have been planted in the past two years by around 25 farmers. Earlier, only the forest department had the authority to plant sandalwood. However, a Karnataka High Court ruling a few years ago allowing cultivation of sandalwood by private parties, and the relaxation of relevant norms by Kerala's forest department in 2020 helped in commencing large-scale farming of the precious trees. 'While the judgments laid the groundwork for allowing private individuals to cultivate sandalwood, certain rights, such as cutting, storing and selling the wood, remain under the jurisdiction of the respective state governments and forest departments,' said K Prasad, a farmer from Thamarakulam, who is leading farming activities in the village. Sought for their aromatic wood and oil, sandalwood trees are considered highly-valuable. A 15-year-old tree fetches more than Rs 1 lakh. In fact, sandalwood is being touted as the future farming sensation. Karnataka leads in its cultivation, with farming being done in over 5,000 sq km. Tamil Nadu follows (3,000 sq km) and Kerala is third (around 1,500 sq km). The practice is also spreading rapidly to other states, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The tree can adapt to various soil types – sandy, clay, red, laterite, even black cotton soil. In Kerala, sandalwood can be successfully grown in any well-drained location, regardless of soil type, making it a viable option for a wide range of farmers. 'For ideal growth, saplings aged seven to eight months and around one foot in height are recommended. Planting pits should be 50 cm in all dimensions and spaced 3m apart. Before planting, pits are treated with dolomite and enriched with organic materials like compost, neem cake, and phosphate to create a nutrient-rich environment. Around 350 to 400 saplings can be planted in one acre of land. Planting one sapling requires less than Rs 300,' Prasad said. Under proper care, sandalwood trees reach chest-height with a width of 70 to 75 cm in 12 to 15 years and yield 15 to 20 kg of wood per tree.'One kg of wood is priced between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per kg depending on its quality,' said P J Suhyab, Marayoor divisional forest officer.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
A rare Brachystelma blooms at Telangana Botanical Garden
1 2 Hyderabad: Brachystelma bilobatum , a rare plant from the Asclepiadaceae family , bloomed at the Telangana Botanical Garden housed in Dr BRR Govt Degree & PG College, Jadcherla, Mahabubnagar district. This marks the first recorded bloom of the species outside its native habitat. The plant was first discovered in 2020 in the Nallamala forests by Dr B Sadasivaiah of Dr BRR Govt Degree College and Dr K Prasad of Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi. Until now, it was documented in only two known localities in that forest region. Brachystelma bilobatum is a hysteranthous plant, meaning it produces flowers before leaves. It grows up to 25cm tall with a slender stem, bearing a few sessile leaves reaching 7cm. The plant's round tuber, edible and consumed by both tribal communities and wild animals, is also noted for its traditional medicinal use. Flowering typically occurs from April to June. The flowers emerge in pairs at nodes, are about 1cm long, deep maroon to nearly black, and are covered with white hairs. The staminal corona's deeply bilobed structure gives the species its name. Dr G Sukanya, principal of the host institution, emphasised the role of the Telangana Botanical Garden in preserving rare and endemic species. She noted that such blooms offer practical exposure to botany students and researchers. While tubers of other Brachystelma species are traditionally used to treat various ailments, Dr Sadasivaiah underlined that the medicinal potential of the plant remains under-researched and requires further scientific validation.
