Poplar wood rates dip to all-time low

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, August 31

The rates of poplar wood have come down to a new low, affecting farmers of the region.

According to information, the price of oversized poplar wood has come down to Rs 500 per quintal from Rs 900 within one-and-a-half year. Similarly, the rate of undersized wood has also dropped from Rs 650 per quintal to Rs 400 per quintal.

Sources said a huge supply of poplar wood from parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to the plywood industry here had created a difference demand and supply graph. However, farmers blames plyboard manufacturers for the crisis.

“The manufactures of plyboard are befooling the farmers in the name of difference between the demand and supply. In fact, they have join hands and buy the poplar wood from farmers at minimum rates,” alleged Rambir Singh Chauhan, district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh.

Satpal Kaushik, a progressive farmer from Kartarpur village, wrote a letter to the state Forest Minister regarding the poor rates of poplar wood. He said the state government should get a survey done about the arrival of poplar wood here from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and then issue new licences to pilling factories and saw mills as per the arrival of the wood. “The downfall in rates has been forcing the farmers to uproot the existing plants and stop new plantation. This practice may invite wood crisis in future and cause harm to environment too,” said Kaushik.

However, Devender Chawala, chairman, Haryana Plywood Manufacturers’ Association, said they had not joined hands and the rates had come down due to difference in demand and supply. “This time, the arrival of raw material is high and the demand of finished goods (ply and board) is low due to slump in the real estate and other markets,” he said.