Bengaluru: With the idea of making sandalwood cultivation more popular, the State Forest Department has proposed a new policy that will further simplify the existing rules.
According to the sources, the Department has already prepared a new draft policy at the meeting with Chairmanship of Forest Minister Umesh Katti.
As per the revised policy, the Forest Department is planning to set up Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) to encourage sandalwood cultivation. These organisations will ensure protection to the grown trees besides marketing the sandalwood, channelising the government support scheme to the growers, etc.
Another major proposal is allowing the farmers to sell the the sandalwood they grow in the open market to ensure better price. Presently the growers are depending upon the Forest Department to buy the sandalwood they grow in their properties.
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