Centre to explore possibility of changing rules on sandalwood cutting, transportation: Union Agriculture Minister

Union Agriculture Minister suggests rule changes to boost sandalwood growth and support farmers facing current restrictions.

In an effort to increase acreage under sandalwood, the Centre will look at ways to change rules pertaining to growing, cutting and transporting the trees, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture said at Chennai on Saturday (March 7, 2026).

Addressing coconut farmers at a post-Budget coconut stakeholders meet, he said sandalwood can be an intercrop like coco, cashew or even coffee. "Farmers have expressed the inability to grow sandalwood due to restrictions. They said the numbers are also dwindling and sought help to increase the sandalwood tree population," he added.

Mr. Chouhan said that intercrops will help coconut farmers to earn more. "Farmers are losing income due to pest attacks and aging trees. With one crore farmers growing coconut and three crore indirectly involved in processing, the Centre announced the Coconut Promotion Scheme in the Budget. I have been visiting farms, listening to farmers and other stakeholders. Their views will be taken into account while drawing up the scheme that will be implemented this year. We will hold discussions with the State governments too before implementing it," he added.

The scheme aims to increase farmers' incomes, increase exports and improve quality among others. Earlier, during the stakeholders meeting, farmers sought assistance to deal with white flies and root wilt disease. They urged the government to develop climate and disease-resistant varieties of coconut palm. They also wanted an insurance scheme for damages due to natural calamities.

On requests from farmers to supply coconut oil through the Public Distribution System, the Minister said that the Coconut Development Board had written to State governments asking them about the possibility of supplying the oil. However, they were yet to get replies.