The expected demand for wood-based panel products of 8 million cubic metres in India is expected to be met by agroforestry.

Production currently sits at just 3.4 million cubic metres; a long way short of the demand. Director of the Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, C.N. Pandey, says a “growing population and economic development are the main reasons for the rise in demand”.

Until now the industry has largely relied on natural forests for raw material but with greater restrictions on timber extraction, barely 3 million cubic metres can come from forests.

“The demand for nearly 31 million cubic metres is estimated to be met by the farm and agroforestry and other woodlots,” he said. The remaining will be met by imports.

Read the full story in the Hindu: Demand for wood-based panel products on the rise