BATHINDA, March 6 -- The Punjab forest department is all set for sample testing of the pilot project of home-grown sandalwood trees to scientifically validate oil content and promote future commercial plantations.

Started in 2013, enterprising farmers from different parts of Punjab ventured into this novel project. Supported by the state forest department and with technical assistance from the Bengaluru-based Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), a central institute, this initiative is a long-term agroforestry diversification project aimed at helping farmers increase their earnings.

Experts said that sandalwood farming is ideal for areas in Punjab marred by degraded soil and scarce water.

Data shows nearly 7,000 sandalwood s...