Frequently asked questions
About Plantation
What are the Kanigiri Location Aspects?
- Proposed construction of new BG railway line between Nadikudi and Sri kalahasti stations, with a Railway Station work at Kanigiri under progress.
- Kanigiri region comes under Veligonda Irrigation Project basin, which gives water to approx. 6 lakh hectares in the region.
- Establishment of Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam IIIT , RGUKT at Ballipalli, Kanigiri Mandal as per a Govt of AP order released on 13.01.2020.
- Donakonda, once an air field has been found suitable for locating the prestigious Peninsular Region Industrial Development Corridor (PRIDe Corridor) project by the Centre.
- Proposed National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Prakasam District. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s had also announced its plans to develop Donakonda into world-class industrial park attracting big domestic and foreign players by offering 25,000 acres of developed land with 24 x7 power supply and water.
- The NIMZ and Donakonda Industrial city coupled with Ramayapatnam port would definitely be grounded sooner than later to ensure significant progress in the years to come.
What is the Maintenance Cost?
Low maintenance and less water requirement is one of the key sustainable factor for cultivating Raktchandhan. The seedlings are incubated for a period of 5 months prior to plantation, thereby reducing water requirement and maintenance cost.
Per one hectare of plantation an estimate of INR 1.50 lakhs goes towards plantation maintenance besides Plantation security costs.
It is an investment which yields returns higher than Insurance Policy, Bank Interest or Stocks. Low investment and high returns compared to any investment policy. It is perfectly suitable for individuals and also for companies as corporate social responsibility activities.
Give me examples of Private buyer in India?
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has emerged as the biggest buyer of the much-sought after red sanders in the country . In the recent auction conducted by the Andhra Pradesh government, Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar, bought 706 tonnes of red sanders for Rs 207 crore. In a seller's market dominated by the Chinese, Ramdev is perhaps the only domestic buyer of the prized wood.
How much yield can be expected per tree after 12-15 years?
As per the estimation by "The Herbal Folklore Research Centre in Tirupati, India", that at least 300 - 500 kg of heartwood per tree can be obtained after 12-15 years under organic and organized farming techniques.
However, the yield from each tree depends on the variety of the plant, type of soil, climatic conditions, water resource and all the more, best cultivation practices.
Under normal conditions, inside the forest the raktchandhan tree takes 20 years to give 300-500kgs of heartwood as per the Research Center inputs. Being a commercial plantation, an average yield time to give optimum return on investment from the tree would be 12-15 years.
How do you determine ideal soil types?
How many acres of plantations do you currently maintain?
Parvatham Plantation Developers is currently maintaining 150 acres of planted sites and has another 200 acres is under preparation.
What is the plant type?
The plants are brought from forest genetics & breeding centers from Karnataka and Mahanandi Nursery. The seedlings are incubated for a period of 5 months prior to plantation, thereby reducing water requirement and maintenance cost.
How are you selecting the plantation sites?
All the sites of Parvatham Ecoforestry Pvt Ltd., are selected after properly studying the below threats & challenges:
- Soil types (the proportion of clay, loam and gravel as well as rock, which affects moisture holding capacity)
- Soil chemistry (the pH, and others).
- Soil nutrient levels (phosphorus, nitrogen and trace elements).
- Weed burdens
- Disease burdens
What is the Plantation plan for 2021?
By March 2021, the ongoing work for constructing a 'Eco-tourism Farm House' for the comfort & convenience of our members.
How many years will it take for yield?
The age of a Red Sandal tree is very important factor when estimated the expected yield. A single tree can give anywhere between 500kgs to 1500 kgs 'heart wood' depending upon the soil, environment and most impoirtantly age of the tree.
How is Soil Preparation done before planting the tree?
The land is ploughed and harrowed repeatedly and soil is brought to a fine tilth. Pits of size 45 cm × 45 cm × 45 cm are dug at a spacing of 3 m × 3 m. The pits are filled with top soil mixed thoroughly with 10–15 kg farm-yard manure and 10 g linden dust to protect the planting stock from soil-borne fungi.
Organic Nutrients are used for better results.
What are the best irrigation practices for Red Sanders Plantation?
The plants are irrigated immediately after transplantation. Thereafter, irrigation is done on alternate days up to 15 days. After the seedlings get established, irrigation may be done at an interval of 10–15 days, depending on the weather conditions.
Red Sanders does not need much water and grows well in dry & decidious land formations.
About The Tree
How long does it take Red Sanders tree to mature?
The maturity period for Red Sandalwood trees in wild conditions in forest is 20-25 years however under organized farming the maturity period can be expected in 12-15 years. The large scale Red Sander trees can be grown through best farming practices under the supervision of subject specialists to get high quality heart wood.
What is Raktchandhan?
Pterocarpus santalinus, with the common names red sanders, red sandalwood, Raktchandhan, and saunderswood, is a species of Pterocarpus endemic to the Southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India in the Seshachalam mountain ranges of Chittoor, Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapa and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh. This tree is valued for the rich red color of its wood. The wood is not aromatic. The tree is not to be confused with the aromatic Santalum sandalwood trees that grow natively in South India.
What is the primary distribution area for Red Sanders?
Red sander occurs in the forest formation which is classified as “5A/C3 Southern Tropical Dry Decidous Forests” as per champion and Seth Classification and falls in the eco-terrestrial region IM1301 Deccan Thorn Scub Forests and as well as IM0201 Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests. It generally found at altitudes of 150-900m. It grows on dry, hilly, often rocky ground, and occasionally found on precipitous hill sides also.
It prefers lateritic and gravelly soil and cannot tolerate water logging. In natural habitat the tree experiences hot, dry climate with normal rainfall of 88-105 cm received from north-east and south-west monsoons. Red Sanders has a highly restrictive distribution in the South Eastern portion of Indian peninsula to which it is endemic.
The Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Cuddapah-Chittoor districts of state of Andhra Pradesh are its principal geographical range which extends into the neighboring Anantapur, Kurnool, Prakasam and Nellore Districs of Andhra Pradesh. These forests are found in the inner slopes on Veligonda hills of Tirupati and Srikalahasti ranges.
What is the ideal soil type required for Red Sander farming?
Raktchandhan requires well-drained red soils with ‘graveled loam’ which is more suitable for the cultivation of Red Sander Trees. It grows on dry, hilly, often rocky ground, and occasionally found on precipitous hill sides also. It prefers lateritic and gravelly soil and cannot tolerate water logging.
How do you determine ideal soil types?
How much yield can be expected per tree after 12-15 years?
As per the estimation by "The Herbal Folklore Research Centre in Tirupati, India", that at least 300 - 500 kg of heartwood per tree can be obtained after 12-15 years under organic and organized farming techniques.
However, the yield from each tree depends on the variety of the plant, type of soil, climatic conditions, water resource and all the more, best cultivation practices. Due to its slow growth and rarity, furniture made from Red Sandalwood is difficult to find and can be expensive. It has been one of the most prized woods for millennia.
How many years will it take for yield?
The age of a Red Sandal tree is very important factor when estimated the expected yield. A single tree can give anywhere between 500kgs to 1500 kgs 'heart wood' depending upon the soil, environment and most impoirtantly age of the tree.
Does Red Sandal need need a Host Plant? Is it a Parasatic Tree?
No, Red Sandal is not a parasatic tree. Meaning it does not require a Host Plant.
What are the different trade names of the Red Sanders Tree?
The popularity of the species in trade is also illustrated by the fact that despite a very limited geographical distribution, large number of trade names in various national and international languages are attributed to it:
Agaru (kan),
Agarugandhamu (tel),
Almug (eng), Atti (tam),
Bois de Santal rouge (fre),
Chandana (mar),
Honne (kan),
Kempugandha Chekke (kan),
Lalchandan (hin),
Lalchandan (ben),
Leno de Sandalo rojo (spa),
Lignum Santali rubrum (pha),
Lignum Santalinum rubrum (pha),
Patrangam (mal),
Pterocarpi lignum (pha),
Rakta Chandan (hin),
Rakta Chandan (ben),
Rakta Gandhamu (tel),
Raktacandana (san),
Raktacandanah (san),
Raktachandanam (san),
Raktachandan (ori),
Raktachandana (san),
Ratanjali (guj),
Red Sandalwood
(eng),
Red Sanders (eng),
Red Sanderswood (eng),
Rotes Sandelholz (ger),
Rotsandelholz (ger),
Sanalho vermelho (por),
Santali lignum rubri (pha),
Saunderswood (eng)
Sivappu Chandanam (tam),
Tambada (mar), Tilaparnni
(mal),
Yerra Chandanamu (tel),
Zitan (chi)
( From Green 1995, IUCN 2004, Lange & Schipmann 1999 as quoted in Mulliken et al 2008).
Is there a problem with the adulteration and falsification of the wood?
There is a problem with the adulteration and falsification of plant material in the P. santalinus market. The heartwood of Adenanthera pavonina Willd. (Mimosaceae), known as ‘Ranjana’ and ‘Raktakambal’ in West Bengal and ‘Bari Gumchi’ in the northern parts of India, is often sold as a fake substitute for P. santalinus, while artificially colored wood shavings and the sawdust of some other trees are also sold on the market as cheap substitutes (Botanical Survey of India 2012).
How has the Community Forest Management Programme helped Red Sanders?
Since last one decade most of the degraded areas have been rescrubbed with the implementation of Community forest management programme through more than 7100 Vana Samrakshana Samithis. Red Sanders (pride of Andhra Pradesh) is growing in the Cuddapah, Chittoor in large extents and in limited extent in the Prakasam and Nellore District. This species of wood is found, only in the A.P. State.
How was Red Sanders Trade in History?
Observing the way it was being exploited TA Whitehead, a Forest Officer in Cuddapah wrote during the first decade of twentieth century that “not only the stems and branches but even the roots were extracted and is to be wondered at, that the tree has survived total extinction”.
What is the Future of Red Sanders/Raktchandhan?
Raktchandhan/P. santalinus is a resilient species and its survival amidst over exploitation from the past few centuries indicates that it is necessary to seriously think about its revival strategies. One of the best ways of conserving Red Sanders is not only to raise large scale seedling based plantations in its natural habitats but also in far away regions having similar growing conditions which would ensure that genetic material is safe for posterity.
About Security
What are the threats and how are they eliminated?
Parvatham Plantations sites are situated very close to the industrially developing Kanigiri town and its surroundings.
About Legality
Is Raktchandhan Plantation Legal?
Is there a Legal statement on Red Sanders Cultivation?
In the year 2008, with Government of India amending its act and giving permissions to cultivate Red Sanders has opened doors for individuals and co-operate bodies to relish the rich outcome of cultivating this wild crop.
Is Selling of Red Sanderswood to private parties Legal?
Not completly Legal. Sample Analysis & Verification had to be done by the Forest Dept. We require permission from AP Forest Department to cut the trees. The permission to cut the Tress would also be received on the Plantation Unit Owners Name.
Do we need to inform the Forest Department before planting the Trees?
Speaking to The Hindu , Chief Conservator of Forests (Tirupati Wildlife Circle), Mr. P.V. Chalapathi Rao said there were somany fallacies among the public about the commercial exploitation of red sanders plantations.
be like growing any other agriculture crop,” he said.
What is the encouragement from the Govt?
With a market value of more than Rs. 25 lakh per tonne, the red sanders tree takes about 20 years to grow to its average height of eight metres to 11 metres in wild and 12-15 years in organized farming that gives min. avg yield per tree.
What is the process of Applying for Property Mark Registration of Red Sandal Trees?
What is a Property Mark?
What is the process of cutting the tree after registration of Property mark?
Every uprooted Red Sandal tree bearing heart wood shall be cleaned upto its heart wood limits. In so cleaning the uprooted Red Sander tree, the departmental hammer mark at the breast height shall be left in tact and ring of bark and sapwood 5 to 7 centimetres wide surrounding the departmental hammer marks shall be left uncut.
How is a Serial Number given to the Red Sandal Wood Tree?
Every Red Sander tree that is uprooted and cleaned shall bear its distinct serial number which shall be written legibly in tar any where on it if it has not been cut up into pieces or when it has been cut up into roots and pieces or billets, all parts of such tree so cut up shall bear at their cut ends, the original serial number assigned to the tree so as to admit of identification and check subsequently by the Divisional Forest Officer or his subordinates.
What is the process of uprooting & inspection of the red sander tree?
The exact situation of the land where each of the Red Sandal wood trees containing heart wood was extracted shall be indicated on the ground by a stout numbered peg which shall be well-driven home in the pit formed in the process of uprootal;
How is the red sander heartwood weighed and the results recorded?
How is the application for moving of Red Sanderwood processed?
After receipt of the application for the removal/moving of the red sanders wood, as the case may be, with the statement in Form VI/Form VII containing all the particulars wherein prescribed is received, the Divisional Forest Officer or any Subordinate Officer authorised by him in this behalf shall as soon as possible: "inspect and identify the red sanders wood", as the case may be, by verifying the girth and the departmental hammer mark put on the standing tree and by assembling all parts of each tree and satisfying himself that the wood is of the same tree that was hammer marked standing and that the details furnished by the applicant in Form VI/Form VII are correct and without error and thereafter mark all sandal wood or the red sanders wood, as the case may be, at the both ends with the Divisional pass hammer.
What details are required by Divisional Forest Officer for granting Permission?
The information as to the source of origin of the heartwood and the quantity of red sanders wood, period of felling, agency, routes, depots, destination and such other details regarding the method of felling, trading or working as the Divisional Officer may think necessary.
What is Divisional Pass Hammer?
All the red sanders wood, as the case may be in respect of which a 'property mark is registered' under this sub-rule shall be marked with the 'Divisional Pass Hammer' by the Divisional Forest Officer or by the subordinate authorised by him to do so.
What is the Validity period of a Property Mark?
Date upto which and description and quantity of red sanders wood for which registration of property mark has effect- The registration and each renewal of registration of a property mark shall be valid only in respect of the description and quantity of the red sanders wood entered in Form V and be in force only from the date of such registration or renewal until the first day of April following unless otherwise stated.
What is Exemption of small quantities of red sanders wood carried by a bonafide traveller or cut and carried by ryots for their own use?
Red Sandalwood cut and carried by a ryot for his personal use from trees growing on the patta lands of the said ryot or of any neighbouring ryots from whom title to such red sandal wood is derived, provided that he obtains a certificate of title from the village munisff or village patwari and that the quantity cut and carried on each occasion does not exceed 10Kgs. in weight;
Is Red sanders is now free of export restrictions?
Yes! All red sanders farmers, who weren’t allowed to export their produce as the foreign trade policy prohibited it, now can. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), an agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on February 18, 2019 revised its export policy to permit its export if it is obtained from cultivated land.
About Medicinal Usages
Is Raktchandhan used in Diabetes Treatment?
A recent study suggests that the active fraction of ethanolic extract of bark of the P. santalinus possess the anti- hyperglycemic and anti hyperlipidemic active principle(s) which act by improving insulin secretion and alterations in the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (Kondeti et al 2010). Thus it could have a significant role in the treatment of diabetes.
What is the Historical importance of Raktchandhan?
In Hinduism, this wood has been traditionally used as a sacred wood. The priests extensively use this wood on many of their rituals in temples. It is integral to rituals and ceremonies, to mark religious utensils and to decorate the icons of the deities.
How is Raktchandhan used in Folklore / Tribal Medicines?
The heartwood has various uses in traditional medicines and is popular for the treatment of diabetes apart from other ailments. The wood paste is applied externally specially for healing various skin diseases and blemishes.
Which countries have more demand for Red Sanders of Andhra Pradesh?
The Red Sander Wood grown in the Five Districts of Andhra Pradesh is of high demand in China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Gulf countries.
What are the chemiocal constituents of Raktchandhan tree?
Bark, heartwood and sapwood contain santalin A and B, isopterocarpolone, pterrocarptriol, isipterocarpene, pterocarpdiolone, pterocarpol, acylolealonic aldehyde and acetyloleanolic acid.
