The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released the Report of the Sandalwood Development Committee, a comprehensive roadmap for revitalising India’s sandalwood ecosystem. The report, chaired by Shri Ratan P. Watal, Former Finance Secretary, draws on inputs from multiple ministries like Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Commerce, and Ayush, along with the National Medicinal Plants Board and leading research bodies including the Institute of Wood Science & Technology (Bengaluru) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
It sets out actionable strategies to revive domestic sandalwood cultivation, reform trade regulations, and restore India’s position as a global supplier of high-quality sandalwood. The report emphasises coordinated efforts between the Centre and States to simplify licensing, promote scientific plantation practices, and encourage farmers’ participation and private investment. With its potential to generate rural employment, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and strengthen biodiversity conservation, the initiative aligns with India’s green-growth and Atmanirbhar Bharat priorities.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
What mechanisms can ensure fair value-sharing across the sandalwood chain, from cultivators and smallholders to processors and exporters, while keeping illegal trade in check?
Follow the full news here: Sandalwood Sector Report
