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Tamil Nadu to unveil Agroforestry Policy, ease rules on tree cultivation

February 17, 2026 5 min read Environment & Ecology Economics GS3
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What Happened

  • Tamil Nadu announced it will unveil a state agroforestry policy — aligning with India's National Agroforestry Policy (2014) — to allow farmers to grow high-value timber trees like teak, sandalwood, red sanders, and mahogany on agricultural land without regulatory uncertainty.
  • The policy proposes relaxing provisions of multiple state forest laws — including the Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules (1967), Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules (1968), and the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act (1994) — that currently deter farmers from planting commercially valuable tree species.
  • The state has earmarked ₹47,248 crore for agriculture in its FY27 interim budget, signalling that agroforestry is part of a broader farmer income diversification and green cover expansion strategy.
  • By reducing the legal friction around felling and transport of farm-grown timber, the policy aims to reduce pressure on natural forests by creating a legitimate, farmer-owned supply of commercial timber.

Static Topic Bridges

National Agroforestry Policy, 2014: India's Framework

India was the first country in the world to adopt a comprehensive National Agroforestry Policy (NAP) in February 2014, developed in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and partner institutions. Agroforestry — the integration of trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same land — simultaneously improves farm income, builds soil carbon, provides ecological services (watershed stabilization, biodiversity corridors), and reduces pressure on natural forests. The NAP's objectives include simplifying tree felling and transit regulations on private agricultural land, promoting seed availability of timber species, and providing institutional credit for tree-planting.

  • NAP 2014: nodal ministry is the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MAFW)
  • NITI Aayog's GROW Portal (2024): maps 28.42 million hectares currently under agroforestry; identifies 75.6 million hectares of potential expansion area
  • Agroforestry under GI tag: certain varieties (bamboo, certain timber species) have GI recognition that adds value to farm forestry products
  • Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF): operational sub-scheme under PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana) providing saplings and nursery support
  • Tamil Nadu joins states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh in formulating state-level agroforestry policies aligned with NAP 2014

Connection to this news: Tamil Nadu's policy directly implements the NAP 2014's call for states to reform tree felling regulations on private farmland — addressing the chilling effect of existing colonial-era forest transit rules that discourage farmers from planting trees they cannot easily harvest and sell.

Tree Felling Regulations: Indian Forest Act and State Laws

The Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927 regulates felling, transit, and transport of timber from forests. However, trees grown on private agricultural land — as opposed to forest land — are governed by state-specific laws, which vary enormously. In Tamil Nadu, farmers face a patchwork of restrictive regulations: the Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules (1967) require government permission to fell or transport sandalwood grown even on private land; the Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules (1968) mandate transit passes for transport; and the Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act (1994) restricts rosewood felling to prevent depletion. These rules were originally designed to prevent poaching from forests but have inadvertently penalized legitimate farm forestry, creating a disincentive to plant these species.

  • IFA 1927, Section 26: prohibits felling in Reserved Forests without government permission; does not directly cover private land
  • Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules, 1967: require Divisional Forest Officer permission for felling, even on farmland; government retains right of pre-emption on sandalwood
  • Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules, 1968: mandatory transit passes for movement of timber — farmer must prove legal ownership and get clearances
  • Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, 1994: restricts felling of Dalbergia latifolia (Indian rosewood); penalties for unauthorised felling
  • IFA 1927, Section 41: empowers state governments to regulate timber transit — used to frame state transit rules

Connection to this news: The Tamil Nadu agroforestry policy's core intervention is precisely the relaxation of these state-level rules — enabling farmers to fell teak, sandalwood, and red sanders grown on their own land without bureaucratic obstruction.

Sandalwood, Red Sanders, and High-Value Timber: Economic and Conservation Dimension

Sandalwood (Santalum album) — valued for its heartwood oil — fetches ₹5,000–₹15,000 per kg in international markets; India is the world's leading producer of sandalwood oil. Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, are listed under CITES Appendix II (controlled international trade) and Schedule IV of the WPA 1972 due to severe poaching and smuggling. Teak (Tectona grandis) is India's most commercially valued plantation timber, with Tamil Nadu and Kerala as significant producers. By allowing farmers to legally cultivate and market these species, the agroforestry policy attempts to channel legitimate farm supply into the market, reducing the incentive for forest poaching and smuggling.

  • Sandalwood (Santalum album): IUCN Vulnerable; government of Karnataka monopolizes sandalwood trade; Tamil Nadu also has significant wild stocks
  • Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): endemic to Rayalaseema (AP); CITES Appendix II; WPA Schedule IV; large-scale smuggling to China and East Asia documented
  • Teak (Tectona grandis): not a protected species; highest commercial timber value (₹1,200–₹3,000/cubic foot); Tamil Nadu has teak plantations in Coimbatore and Nilgiris circles
  • Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla): CITES Appendix II; high-value tropical timber; can be farm-grown
  • Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA), Section 3(1)(a): grants forest-dwelling communities the right to use minor forest produce — including bamboo, tendu leaves — from forest land; separate from farm-grown timber rights

Connection to this news: Legally enabling farm-grown sandalwood and red sanders cultivation in Tamil Nadu would create a traceable, legal supply chain — reducing the pressure on wild populations and potentially turning Tamil Nadu into a major legitimate source of globally demanded timber.

Key Facts & Data

  • Tamil Nadu agroforestry policy: announced 2026; covers teak, sandalwood, red sanders, mahogany
  • Budget allocation: ₹47,248 crore for agriculture in TN's FY27 interim budget
  • National Agroforestry Policy, 2014: India first country globally to adopt national-level agroforestry policy
  • NITI Aayog GROW Portal (2024): 28.42 million ha under agroforestry; 75.6 million ha potential
  • State laws being relaxed: TN Sandalwood Rules (1967), TN Timber Transit Rules (1968), TN Rosewood (Conservation) Act (1994)
  • Sandalwood oil price: ₹5,000–₹15,000/kg internationally
  • Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): endemic to Eastern Ghats; CITES Appendix II; WPA Schedule IV
  • Teak (Tectona grandis): highest-value plantation timber; ₹1,200–₹3,000/cubic foot
  • IFA 1927, Section 41: empowers states to regulate timber transit — legal basis for state transit rules
  • Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF): under PMKSY; provides saplings and nursery support to farmers