• NET Web Desk

In an attempt to enhance agricultural production & creating additional marketing avenues, the farmers of East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh are now stressing on cultivating a high commercial market value timber trees – the Mahogany trees.

After rubber and palm-oil cultivation, the cultivators are now eyeing on Mahogany (scientifically termed as ‘swietenia mahagoni‘) – a high-value plantation best known for its best-quality timber with high durability and water resistance property.

According to Arunachal Times report, atleast 20 farmers of Ngorlung village have commenced the mahogany plantation in 30 hectares of land at Ngorlung Moruk, a region adjacent to the Industrial Growth Centre in Ngorluk.

Meanwhile, a farmer hailing from Ngorlung Village named Ajom Tarang asserted that an Itanagar-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) encouraged him to adopt the cultivation of this priced timber trees on a commercial basis, which will turn-out to be a transformation for uplifting livelihood.

Besides, the NGO through its training programme conducted at Ruskin, aimed to generate awareness on the plantation activities during initial phase.

Tarang asserted that he has successfully grown 5,000 trees, and therefore urged the state government to chalk-out a scheme for supporting the mahogany planters, considering the significance of this tree species and uplifting its practice among mahogany growers.

Popularly known as ‘American Mahogany’, ‘Cuban Mahogany’, ‘West Indian Mahogany’ or ‘small-leaved mahogany’, the tree species is referred as one of the most priced timber trees across the nation.

Utilized for producing medicines and cosmetics, these trees belong to meliaceae family and is listed as “Threatened” in the Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act. A national tree of the Dominican Republic, these are native to the tropical areas of south Florida in the United States and the islands of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.