For a long time, sandalwood cultivation in India was considered limited to South India, but the perception is now changing. The ‘Sandalwood Forest’ model developed by Patanjali in Uttarakhand has proved that successful sandalwood cultivation is possible in North India as well under favourable conditions. Positive examples of this model have already emerged in several districts of the state.
Nearly two decades ago, Patanjali General Secretary Acharya Balkrishna began experiments on sandalwood cultivation in Haridwar. At that time, sandalwood farming in North India was almost non-existent.
Studies conducted on sandalwood saplings planted at Patanjali’s research centre and medicinal garden yielded encouraging results, following which farmers and private institutions in several districts of the state started adopting this model.
According to experts, sandalwood is a semi-parasitic tree that requires nourishment from the roots of nearby plants for its growth. Therefore, its cultivation depends on scientific methods and proper management.
Initiative began with Acharya Balkrishna’s discovery
Several years ago, Acharya Balkrishna came across a report mentioning the presence of sandalwood trees in the Manikut mountain region of Uttarakhand, after which he began exploring its possibilities.
The report stated that sandalwood trees once existed in the hills of Manikut and were transported through river routes to Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh.
To verify the claim, Acharya Balkrishna and his team conducted scientific investigations. The study revealed that sandalwood trees did indeed exist in the region, though only in limited numbers.
Following this, he decided to plant sandalwood saplings in Haridwar and surrounding areas.
The saplings planted in Patanjali’s medicinal garden developed into a full-fledged ‘Sandalwood Forest’ within a few years.
Later, the experiment also succeeded in areas including Pauri district. This initiative provided a strong foundation for the possibilities of sandalwood cultivation in Uttarakhand, with the ‘Sandalwood Forest’ model now being seen as a high-value farming option.
‘Sandalwood Forest’ can help stop migration from Uttarakhand!
Speaking at the International Conference on Vision 2047 at IIT Roorkee, Acharya Balkrishna presented his vision for tackling migration from Uttarakhand.
He said people are leaving the hills in search of employment, whereas prosperity can be brought to these regions through proper utilisation of local resources.
He shared an experience from Yamkeshwar block. A few years ago, he visited the hilly region where vast stretches of land were barren and dry. Seeing this challenge as an opportunity, Balkrishna initiated plantation of sandalwood and other climate-suitable plants in the area.
After initial efforts, the experiment gradually succeeded, and within a few years the same region turned lush green.
In this context, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited his ancestral region of Yamkeshwar, where Acharya Balkrishna showed him the transformed area.
The land, once considered barren and unusable, had now developed into a thriving ‘Sandalwood Forest’ covered in dense greenery.
Witnessing the transformation, Yogi Adityanath expressed surprise at seeing such rich greenery flourish in a place where nothing used to grow earlier.
Through this example, Acharya Balkrishna explained that if this model is adopted on a larger scale, not only can barren land be made productive, but farmers’ income can also increase significantly.
Sandalwood cultivation can be carried out on small patches of land and matures in around 10–15 years, generating an estimated return of nearly Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per tree.
He believes that such initiatives can create sustainable livelihood opportunities in hill regions and play a major role in effectively curbing migration.