Just 1 sandalwood tree fetched `1.25 cr
Kerala’s famous Marayoor sandalwood trees are known for their unparalleled fragrance, and the state Forest Department has received record sales revenue through its auction this month.
Idukki (Kerala): Kerala’s famous Marayoor sandalwood trees are known for their unparalleled fragrance, and the state Forest Department has received record sales revenue through its auction this month.
Officials said the department got Rs37.22 crore in the auction, where big companies and institutions like Karnataka Soaps, Oushadhi, Jaipur CMT and India Ltd, KFDC, and Devaswom Boards participated. The sandalwood collected from private lands and those from forest areas were auctioned. Forest officials said the amount collected towards the sandalwood from private lands will be handed over to the landowners.
“Just one sandalwood tree on a private land at Marayoor was picked up for Rs1.25 crore. Its roots alone were sold for Rs27.34 lakh,” said Vinod Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Marayoor.
He said with more private people coming forward for sandalwood farming, it should be noted that 4,226 kg of sandalwood collected from private farmers were also auctioned, fetching more than Rs3 crore. “This amount will be handed over to the land owners,” Kumar said. Apart from Marayoor sandalwood, fragrant wood from other divisions of the Kerala Forest Department was also auctioned here.
