Dear Forum friends,
I got the below reply from one of the reputed plywood industries for my queries. I am pasting the reply for the benefit of the forum. Below info is just from one of the companies and may not be common across other similar companies.
FAQ on Melia Dubia (Kadbevu)
Melia is one of the fast and best specie for manufacture of plywood. Apart from plywood, Melia wood is used in MDF, Particleboard, Block Board & Flush Door industry also.
The economic girth of tree at the time of harvesting should be about 40” or 110 Cms. In plantation it takes between 12 & 14 years for tree to put on this girth. It is water loving tree and in irrigated condition growth is good, however optimum supply of water should be given. First 3 years are critical for growth of tree. During this period they can be fertilized irrigated and most important pruned so that tree can grow tall and straight. Beyond 3 years pruning is not required.
Melia grows all over Indian sub continent and South East Asia. It is fast growing specie. Growth rates are excellent where water availability is good. In low rainfall areas growth is slower. In order to maximise growth plough land deep and see that pit size when planting seedlings is minimum 2 ft. Cube. We recommend minimum spacing of 15’ x 15’. First two/three years are important and branches have to be pruned to get straight bowl. Growth rate of Melia is generally 1 cuft per tree per year this is thumb rule. It grows faster on bunds and periphery of agricultural land in plantation growth is slower. Melia is good wood for manufacture of plywood. The minimum girth required is 90 Cms.
Present price of Melia Dubia in Hunsur are as follows;
Circumference (girth) 36” & up 8 ½’ or 13’ and longer - Rs.325/- per Cuft
Circumference (girth) 42” & up 13’ and longer Rs.375/- per Cuft.
Circumference (girth) 48” & up 13’ and longer Rs.425/- per Cuft.
Delivered at Factory
These logs are selected logs for veneering (peeling) and should be without knots, defects and should be straight.
Shorter logs have lesser value as these logs are used for core purpose only.
Sawing Logs are being sold on tonnage basis, rate being approx. Rs.6000/- per ton. We donot purchase sawing logs.
- How can i sell this plant from Sehore once it is ready…?
It has demand all over India for Sawing, Plywood, Particle Board & MDF
2) What precautions do i have to take during cultivation…?
Planting pint should be 2’ x 2’ x 2’ Cube
- When can i use my land for farming again once melia dubia is harvested…?
Immediately, infact you can do inter cultivation.
- Once melia dubia is harvested do i have to plant it again or will
it grow from the same bark…?
You will have to plant again.
- can i plant seeds instead of saplings…?
It is very difficult to germinate melia seeds. Plant Saplings.
- if have to cross cultivate other crops which can i cultivate. can i
plant bigget trees like mango,guava,black berry(jamun)
yes you can but eventually you will have to decide as it may effect crop due excess shade.
P.S.The above information and prices are indicative only and should not be treated as final
From the above info, I assume that each tree on an average on a realistic note works out to be 3000 to 4000 Rs based on current market price (I have assumed 0.5 Ft radius & 13 Ft height after 10 years with good management). I still would like to seek important information cutting charges per tree, transportation cost per tree assuming a distance of 200 kilometers. Then it becomes quite easy to work out economics considering cost of cultivation, cost of harvesting etc to arrive at net profitability. Kindly enlighten.
Thanks & Regards