After being in the Northeast for three years, I have observed frequent water scarcity in one of the wettest regions of the world.
I see a similar paradox when I think about Teak and Sal in India.
India has a long history of teak and sal cultivation, extensive silvicultural knowledge, suitable growing regions, and strong domestic demand for teak and sal.
Yet, despite all this, India continues to depend heavily on imports.
In the present scenario, where researchers are not getting enough funding to conduct research, it makes me to write my perception when a few state governments focus on forestry or agroforestry promotion.
This story started when I read about Karnataka’s second species-specific Tega Siri Scheme, after Siri Chandana.
After reading about this, I also remembered other states’ efforts to conserve and commercialize a few key trees.
But few questions comes in my mind,,,
- Is encouraging farmers to grow teak a good opportunity?
- What are the potential benefits?
- What are the concerns?
- Can such a scheme help address India’s long-term teak supply needs?
Being a forester, most of us have read about how teak farming was initiated during the colonial period.
After reading some ancient forest literature i felt like India Had Forest Experts for Centuries.
So, When Did Scientific Forestry Begin?
Anyway, when we talk about scientific forestry during the colonial period, teak and sal immediately come to mind.
Teak was extremely valuable to the British, particularly for shipbuilding.
Napoleon Bonaparte is often credited with observing that the British were strong at sea while he was strong on land, but ultimately, control of the seas played a crucial role in his defeat.
This gives hints about why teak was so important to the British. A strong navy required strong ships, and strong ships required durable timber. Indian teak became one of the valuable resources that supported this maritime power.
Its strength, durability, and natural resistance to decay made it an important timber for ships at a time when the British Empire was expanding its naval power.
Sal, on the other hand, became particularly important with the expansion of the Indian railway network, where its strong and durable timber was widely used for railway sleepers.
British first exploited India’s teak.
Then they restricted Indians from harvesting it.
But later they went one step further: they started systematically managing teak forests and laid the foundation for scientific forestry in India during collonial period.
H. V. Conolly, the District Collector of Malabar under the Madras Presidency, played an important role in establishing the historic teak plantation at Nilambur, Kerala, during the 1840s. But many forgotten the real practical contribution of Chathu Menon was crucial to the success of teak planting in the region.
We Indians have been experimenting with teak plantations for many years.
Since then, India has developed considerable expertise in teak silviculture, plantation management, tree improvement and wood science, including institutions such as the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru.
India’s Teak Paradox: Hub of Knowledge, Research and Resources, Yet it Imports
According to the Global Teak Resources and Market Assessment 2022, India’s teak roundwood imports in 2022 came predominantly from Latin American countries (72.5 %) and African countries (25%). Myanmar was historically one of India’s most important sources of teak before 2014 restrictions on log exports.
Just think
A country with nearly two centuries of experience in teak cultivation and research still depends significantly on teak produced outside its borders.
And
If the commercial importance of teak was recognised so early, why have we still not succeeded in building a sufficiently large, productive and farmer-centred domestic teak resource?
Why is Tega Siri important?
When I heard about Karnataka’s new “Tegada Siri” (Teak Tree Stewardship) scheme, I remembered K. S. Nissar Ahmed’s beautiful song Jogada Siri Belakinalli.
As a Kannadiga forester, I am curious about this initiative because my Karnataka state is trying to build a large-scale programme around a single timber species, especially teak.
Even if it does not succeed on a large scale everywhere, in some places where we have good officers, adequate space, moisture, and suitable climatic conditions, it can help build a long-term teak resource and wealth-generation programme involving farmers.
This is where Karnataka’s Tegada Siri Scheme becomes interesting.
But before Tegada Siri, Karnataka already had experience with similar tree-based initiatives, most notably the Siri Chandana Vana programme for sandalwood. Other states such as Kerala, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also promoted teak through plantations, farm forestry and agroforestry programmes.
So, the idea of encouraging farmers to grow commercially valuable trees is not new.
But timber species such as teak are different from many crops.
It is a long-term investment.
Therefore, when the government encourages farmers to plant teak, the discussion should go beyond the number of seedlings distributed or hectares brought under plantation.
We need to ask:
- How well do farmers understand teak?
- How well did they support with quality planting material?
- What may be the fate of other commercial native trees of Karnataka?
- Will farmers actually benefit?
- What will the farmer earn at the end of the rotation?
- What risks will the farmer face during the waiting period?
- Will there be a reliable market when the trees mature?
- How will it be to harvest and transport the timber as they do in farm forestry?
- Tree Patta or Tree Rights: Is There Enough Clarity?
- What are the ecological concerns?
These questions are just as important as the question of how many teak trees can be planted.
And this is why Tega Siri is important.
It allows Karnataka to think beyond simply planting 1 crore (10 million) teak saplings every year for three years and to explore how a commercially valuable timber species can be developed as a long-term resource for farmers, while also strengthening the state’s future timber supply.
I strongly encourage scientists to create awareness through radio talks, hands-on training, and popular articles, rather than focusing only on publishing papers in high-impact-factor journals. Research becomes more meaningful when its knowledge reaches farmers, students, field workers, and the wider public.
In my coming blog, I will discuss some practical aspects of teak cultivation, including quality planting material, planting and spacing, thinning and pruning, water management, and nutrient management. These are important aspects to consider if Tega Siri is to become a successful long-term teak development programme involving farmers.
