Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India: For farmers who are interested in the growing industry of agro-forestry in India, rising timber demand is pushing the value of Melia Dubia (also called Malabar neem, malai vembu, hebbevu or kaadu bevu) even higher.

Timber demand in India has always been strong, and recent reports indicate that timber exports to India will continue to grow by 2021. In 2018, the value of imported wood in India reached Rs 388.5 billion.

Because of the high price of importing wood, Melia Dubia is becoming a very valuable asset for farmers in India. It can be grown in both wet and dry regions, and it grows to maturity incredibly quickly, often reaching a height of more than 40 feet within 2 years of planting. In addition, it can be harvested and used for wood pulp between the ages of 3-5 years, and for plywood, furniture, matchsticks, pencils and more after 5-7 years.

The rapid growth, hardiness, and ease of growing Melia Dubia is making it highly-valuable in India. The wood can sell for as much as Rs 200 per cubic foot, with trees between 5-7 years of age coming in at 15-20 cubic feet of volume. Since up to 400 trees can be planted in a single acre of land, this means farmers can make a big profit off even if they do not have much space to dedicate to growing Melia Dubia.

Farmers who are interested in the benefits of Melia Dubia/Malabar neem may inquire about further details from local sellers of Melia Dubia drupes, seeds and seedlings in their local area, and determine if this tree is a good addition to their farms.