<p>He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Grow sandalwood, save country, earn money’ programme organised at Yogesh Sandal and Teak Plantation at Dorenalu village.<br /><br />“Those who grow sandalwood will get a financial assistance of Rs 26,000 per acre under the national medicinal and aromatic plants mission. One farmer can get assistance up to 10 acres,” he informed.<br /><br />Sandalwood is grown in Malaysia, Indonesia, and also in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It can be grown with mango, tamarind, sapota and teak plantations, he added.<br /><br />In his inaugural address, MLA D S Suresh said: “Arecanut trees grown in hundreds of acres in Dorenalu village had been destroyed in the 2003 drought. However, Vishukumar has shown the will power and has emerged as a model farmer in the country by growing sandalwood as an alternative.”<br /><br />“It is easy to grow sandalwood. But it is difficult to protect it from the illegal tree lifters. Police and forest officials should imbibe confidence among the farmers who have already been suffered due to drought, through punishing such outlaws,” he said.<br /><br />TK Ramesh, the Assistant General Manager, Shimoga Division of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, said a tonne of sandalwood costs Rs 30 lakh in the current market. <br /><br />“Since sandalwood production has considerably gone down, the government is encouraging to grow it more and more. The Horticulture Department distributes sandalwood plants pricing at Rs 12 per plant,” he said.<br /><br />Tarikere Assistant Conservator of Forests Abhidalikhan said people have less awareness on growing sandalwood. Vishukumar who know it has achieved something great. <br /><br />Sandalwood grower Vishukumar appealed fellow farmers to grow sandalwood to come out of the drought’s shock.<br /><br />Town Municipal Council former president T R Nagaraj presided.</p>
<p>He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Grow sandalwood, save country, earn money’ programme organised at Yogesh Sandal and Teak Plantation at Dorenalu village.<br /><br />“Those who grow sandalwood will get a financial assistance of Rs 26,000 per acre under the national medicinal and aromatic plants mission. One farmer can get assistance up to 10 acres,” he informed.<br /><br />Sandalwood is grown in Malaysia, Indonesia, and also in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It can be grown with mango, tamarind, sapota and teak plantations, he added.<br /><br />In his inaugural address, MLA D S Suresh said: “Arecanut trees grown in hundreds of acres in Dorenalu village had been destroyed in the 2003 drought. However, Vishukumar has shown the will power and has emerged as a model farmer in the country by growing sandalwood as an alternative.”<br /><br />“It is easy to grow sandalwood. But it is difficult to protect it from the illegal tree lifters. Police and forest officials should imbibe confidence among the farmers who have already been suffered due to drought, through punishing such outlaws,” he said.<br /><br />TK Ramesh, the Assistant General Manager, Shimoga Division of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, said a tonne of sandalwood costs Rs 30 lakh in the current market. <br /><br />“Since sandalwood production has considerably gone down, the government is encouraging to grow it more and more. The Horticulture Department distributes sandalwood plants pricing at Rs 12 per plant,” he said.<br /><br />Tarikere Assistant Conservator of Forests Abhidalikhan said people have less awareness on growing sandalwood. Vishukumar who know it has achieved something great. <br /><br />Sandalwood grower Vishukumar appealed fellow farmers to grow sandalwood to come out of the drought’s shock.<br /><br />Town Municipal Council former president T R Nagaraj presided.</p>