Private Sector Forestry Research - a Success Story from India

Almost the entire 76 million ha recorded forest area is owned and managed by the State Governments in India. The Government funds forestry research by the State Forest Departments and various Forest Research Institutes under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Legislation for sui generis protection for breeder's rights is still pending, and there is no mechanism for certification of seed of forestry species or registration of clones. There is no wonder, therefore, that there is little incentive for private sector investments in forestry research. Despite many 64 constraints, ITC Bhadrachalam has been implementing a major research and development project since 1989 with a view to improving the productivity and profitability of plantations and making farm forestry an attractive land use option. Main R&D thrust has been on genetic improvement of planting stock and improvement of package of practices. Major gains in productivity of Eucalyptus have been achieved in a short time span through applications of vegetative propagation and cloning techniques with gainful exploitation of existing useful variation and developmentJdeployment of locality specific, high yielding, fast growing and disease resistant clones. Starting with cloning of 64 CPTs of Eucalyptus tereticornis and Mysore Gum during 1989, more than 500 CPTs have been cloned so far. Based on the performance of individual clones in the field trials, 72 promising, fast growing and disease resistant clones have been identified. These clones are now well-known as 'Bhadrachalam' clones with productivity ranging between 12-44 m³/ha/yr under rainfed conditions compared to 6-10 m³/ha/yr productivity of normal seed route plantations. Further, research work for identification of still better clones is continuing. Several intra-specific hybrids have been developed through controlled pollination between selected best 'Bhadrachalam' clones of E.tereticornis. Hybrid progeny is under evaluation and many hybrids are showing extremely good promise at one-year age. Development of inter-specific hybrids between E. tereticornis and E. urophylial/E. torelliana is progressing well. Extremely well defined research objectives, competent and committed scientific personnel, continuity of research plans and personnel, adequate delegation with accountability and wholehearted support at the topmost level of the Company have been key factors leading to emergence of ITC Bhadrachalam as respected pioneers in the field of clonal technology and technology based plantations in India. The Company's efforts have been recognised with three prestigious awards and technical consultancy assignment for World Bank aided Forestry Development Project in Maharashtra State. The entire nation is now benefiting from these unique 'Bhadrachalam' clones.