Australia exports sandalwood oil to Karnataka as state’s production, quality decline: Report
Bengaluru: In a reversal of roles, Australia, which once imported sandalwood seeds from Karnataka, is now exporting sandalwood oil to the state. This shift comes amid a decline in both the quality and yield of farm-grown sandalwood in Karnataka, resulting in increased reliance on imports to meet domestic demand.
Private companies and Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) are increasingly diversifying their product lines due to the shortage of raw material, as reported by The New Indian Express on Thursday. Many are shifting focus to non-sandal-based items such as jasmine, rose, lavender, and aloe vera.
A KSDL official said that there is currently a 60–70% shortage of both sandalwood and its essential oil, severely impacting domestic production. To compensate for the shortfall, they are importing approximately 5,000 kg of sandalwood oil from Australia annually which continues to rise each year.
“Australia has become one of the largest suppliers of oil. Since Karnataka’s sandalwood is of supreme quality, Australia took the seeds from Karnataka in the 1990s and harvested them in a secure environment. Good quality of oil was extracted and Australia is gradually becoming a leading exporter of sandalwood oil,” TNIE quoted the KSDL official as saying.
The official added that, in addition to sourcing farm-grown sandalwood within the state, KSDL is also procuring wood from other states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, to meet the demand.
The decline in both the quantity and quality of sandalwood was highlighted in the Sandalwood Development Committee’s report released by the Central Vista Oversight Committee. The report, cited by TNIE, also identified Australia as the largest sandalwood market, holding approximately 69 percent of the market share, followed by India with a 20 percent share.
Officials at the Institute of Wood Science and Technology mentioned that, although sandalwood is a hardy species requiring a stressful environment to thrive, factors such as declining soil quality, reduced land fertility, and inadequate protection measures are contributing to a deterioration in its quality.
The Karnataka Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2001, permits the cultivation of sandalwood on private lands. This policy change has reportedly encouraged private individuals to engage in the cultivation and protection of sandalwood trees.
KSDL Managing Director Prashanth PK stated that to boost wood procurement, they have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 735 farmers, resulting in sandalwood cultivation on over 4,000 acres. “But a lot more needs to be done as demand is rising. Due to shortage, KSDL is diversifying into other items,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
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Akash Singh says signature celebration fuels motivation, reinforces dominance
Lucknow (PTI): Pacer Akash Singh caught the eye with his unique celebration during Lucknow Super Giants' win over Chennai Super Kings, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket after a wicket, a gesture he said was aimed at "motivating" himself and "asserting dominance" over batters.
The left-arm pacer pulled out a scrappy piece of paper after each of the three wickets he took in LSG seven-wicket win over CSK, with the message reading: "Akki on fire -- Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.
The 24-year-old, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals and was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving to Lucknow Super Giants, registered his best IPL figures with 3 for 26 on Friday.
"'Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket', right?" Akash said when asked about the message on the piece of paper, adding that it serves as a source of motivation and helps him focus on dominating batters and delivering stronger performances for the team.
"Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don't, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day. When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise," he added.
Akash, who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, said the strong backing from the Lucknow Super Giants support staff over the last two years had played a huge role in his growth as a cricketer.
"I've been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I'm not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there...Tom Moody. The way they guide us, prepare us and keep us ready for opportunities is very important when there are 25 players in the squad," he said.
"When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets. The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better," Akash said, referring to Rishabh Pant.
Akash said Pant had asked him to trust his strengths ahead of the clash against CSK.
"He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” added Akash.
On his success against CSK, Akash said his experience of playing in the IPL since 2020, including a stint with CSK, helped him understand the opposition batters better, while backing his own strengths with the ball also played a key role in his impressive spell.
"Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering," Akash said.
Akash said he had sensed over the last two-three games that an opportunity could come his way after being repeatedly told to "be ready", though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier.
"Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready," he said.
Clarifying that he had not been carrying the piece of paper in anticipation, Akash said he often notes down thoughts that could help improve his game..
"Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper," he added.
