eucalyptus tree plantation business plan

Eucalyptus Farming Business Plan And Guide

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Eucalyptus farming is gaining popularity gradually. It is a medicinal/herbal crop and the leaves and oil are used for making medicine. If you have land, then commercial cultivation of eucalyptus can be a good and profitable agribusiness for you.

Eucalyptus is actually a genus of over 700 species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They are commonly known as eucalypts, along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including Corymbia.[ 1 ]

Plants in the genus Eucalyptus have bark that is either smooth, fibrous, hard or stringy, leaves with oil glands, and sepals and petals that are fused to for a ‘cap’ or operculum over the stamens. The fruit of these plants is a woody capsule commonly referred to as a ‘gumnut’.

The eucalyptus trees vary in size and habit from shrubs to tall trees. Trees generally have a single main stem or trunk but many ucalyptus are mallees that are multistemmed from ground level and rarely taller than 33 feet.

There is no clear distinction between a mallee and a shrub. But in eucalyptus, a shrub is a mature plant less than 1 meter tall and growing in an extreme environment. Eucalyptus is a native tree of Australia and Tasmania. About three-quarters of Australian forests are eucalypt forests.

Eucalyptus is a fast growing tree in the world and attained great height. One of the species of eucalyptus tree attained height of 480 feet. It is known by many other names is many different places around the world. It’s other names include gum tree, nilgiri tree, sofeda, red iron tree etc.

The eucalyptus tree is cultivated and used for many different purposes. It is planted for fuel wood, poles, timber, and biomass for essential oil purpose. Essential oil of eucalyptus has special space in Ayurveda Treatment. It is a flowering tree, and is a great source of nectar for the honey bees.

Table of Contents

Uses of Eucalyptus

As you know, the eucalyptus is a medicinal/herbal tree. The dried leaves and oil are used for making medicine. People use eucalyptus for many conditions including head lice, plaque and gingivitis, asthma, bronchitis and many other purposes. It is also used in soaps, mouth wash liquids, massage oil, repellents and air fresheners. It helps in curing common flu, cold and fever.

Benefits of Eucalyptus Leaves

The eucalyptus is an evergreen tree which is widely used for it’s medicinal properties. The leaves can be made into essential oil for tropical use or inhalation. Here we are shortly describing about the top benefits of eucalyptus leaves.

• Eucalyptus leaves are great source of antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, which protect your body from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
• You can’t eat fresh, whole eucalyptus leaves, but the dried leaves can be made into tea.
• Eucalyptus is a good source of antioxidants and generally recognized as safe for adults. However, children are at high risk of eucalyptus toxicity and should get approval from a healthcare professional before drinking this tea.[ 2 ]
• Eucalyptus is widely used as a natural cold remedy and it is a common ingredient in cold and cough products. Research has shown that it can decrease mucus and expand the bronchi and bronchioles of your lungs. It is also a natural anti inflammatory agent.[ 3 ]
• Using eucalyptus may improve dry skin by increasing it’s ceramide content. Topical eucalyptus leaf extract has been found to boost skin ceramide production, water-holding capacity, and skin barrier protection. It contains a compound called macrocarpal A, which appears to stimulate ceramide production.[ 4 ]
• Inhaling eucalyptus essential oil may decrease pain. Eucalyptus contains many anti-inflammatory compounds, such as cineole ad limonene, which may act as pain relievers.[ 5 ]
• Eucalyptus oil is associated with decreased blood pressure and anxiety. It’s believed to active the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.
• Chewing gum with eucalyptus leaf extract has been found to significantly decrease plaque buildup on teeth and signs of gum disease. It’s added to many types of mouthwash and other oral health products.
• Eucalyptus oil is a natural insect repellent, mainly due to it’s eucalyptol content. It many also be an effective treatment for head lice.

Benefits of Eucalyptus Oil

The eucalyptus oil has many benefits. Here we are listing the top benefits of eucalyptus oil.

• Eucalyptus oil has been used for relieving coughing for many years. And today, some cough medications have eucalyptus oil as one of their active ingredients.
• Eucalyptus oil not only can silence a cough, but also it can help you get the mucus out of your chest. Inhaling the vapor made with the essential oil can loosen mucus so that when you do cough it’s expelled. Using a rub containing eucalyptus oil will produce the same effect.
• You can use eucalyptus oil for keeping the pests away from your property.
• The Australian aborigines used eucalyptus leaves for treating wounds and preventing infection.
• Inhaling steam with added eucalyptus oil, may help respiratory conditions such as asthma and sinusitis.
• Eucalyptus oil has potential as a treatment for diabetes. Experts believe that it may play a role in lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes.
• The anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus can ease symptoms of herpes. Applying eucalyptus oil to a cold sore may reduce pain and speed up the healing process.
• Eucalyptus oil can be used to fight the germs that cause unfortunate mouth odor, because of it’s antibacterial properties. Some toothpastes and mouthwashes contain the eucalyptus essential oil as an active ingredient.
• Some research suggest that, eucalyptus oil eases joint pain. It may also be helpful to people experiencing back pain or those recovering from a joint or muscle injury.

Advantages of Eucalyptus Farming

Eucalyptus is a medicinal/herbal plant. It grows well in almost every areas around the world. Commercial eucalyptus farming has many advantages.

• You can start commercial production of eucalyptus for making profits. Here we are describing about the top advantages/benefits of starting eucalyptus farming business.
• Starting commercial eucalyptus farming is a good business, especially if you can market your products easily.
• You can start this business if you have empty, unused land. Planting some eucalyptus trees can be a good way for making some extra income.
• It is a medicinal/herbal tree. You can target selling your products to some Ayurveda companies.
• It is a pretty common business idea. Many people are already doing this business.
• Caring eucalyptus trees is very easy. So, you can take this opportunity for making some extra profits.
• The eucalyptus trees can be grown in almost everywhere.
• Demand of the eucalyptus products is increasing.
• You can produce other crops from the field which you use for growing eucalyptus trees.
• Production costs are relatively less, but returns are good.
• Eucalyptus leaves and oil both have many benefits. So, you can enjoy all these if you start eucalyptus farming of your own.

How to Start Eucalyptus Farming?

Starting both small scale and commercial eucalyptus farming is very easy and simple. The eucalyptus trees generally require less care and other management, and they grow well in all types of environment.

Almost all types of soil are good for eucalyptus farming. But full sun is a mandatory for growing eucalyptus trees. Here we are trying to describe more information about eucalyptus tree cultivation from planting, caring to harvesting and marketing.

Step 1. Select Good Location

You have to select a good location for starting your eucalyptus farming business. The eucalyptus trees generally grow well in almost all types of soil. But availability of full sun is very important.

Deep, organic content rich and well drained loamy soils with sufficient moisture content are considered best for eucalyptus cultivation. The growth will stagnate on poor heavy, sandy soils, highly alkaline and saline soils.

But some eucalyptus hybrid species are successfully grown in alkaline and saline soils. The trees generally grow very well in the soils with pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.

Step 2. Prepare the Soil

The eucalyptus trees grow well in fertile and organic content rich soils. So, prepare the soil perfectly for growing these plants. The land should be free from weeds and any previously cultivated crop roots. Several ploughings can make the soil to the fine tilth stage.

Plough the land about 3 months before planting the trees. Other land preparation activities such as ridging, harrowing and leveling should be completed early for monsoon plantation.

Eucalyptus is mainly planted for industrial purpose. For commercial plantation make land weed and stubble free. For plantation dig pit of size 30cm x 30cm x 30cm or 45cm x 45cm x 45cm.

Step 3. Climate Requirement For Eucalyptus Farming

The eucalyptus trees can be grown in a wide variety of climatic conditions. But they thrive best in tropical to temperate climatic areas. The eucalyptus trees can be grown up to 2000 to 2200 m altitude. They require between 4 cm and 40 cm annual rainfall for good growth.

They have high degree of drought resistance, hence can be cultivated in drought areas and waste lands. They can be grown in the regions with temperature range of 0°C to 47°C.

Step 4. Best Time For Eucalyptus Cultivation

Monsoon is the best time for plating eucalyptus plants. Although, you can plant anytime if you have good irrigation facilities.

Step 5. Choose a Variety

There are several varieties of the eucalyptus plants. Most common and popular eucalyptus varieties are Eucalyptus camaldulensis, FRI 4 and FRI 6, Eucalyptus globules and Eucalyptus citriodora.

Step 6. Purchase Seeds

The eucalyptus trees are grown from seeds. You can purchase the seeds from any of your nearest seed supply stores. Or consider ordering the seeds online.

Step 7. Seeds Per Acre

Exact amount of required seeds vary on many different factors. With spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 meter gives plant population near 1690 plant per acre. Whereas spacing of 2 x 2 meter accommodates near about 1200 plants per acre.

Step 8. Planting

Best time for plating the eucalyptus transplant is from June to October. For high density planting select spacing of 1.5m x 1.5m (plant population near about 1690 plant/acre) or 2m x 2m (near about 1200 plants/acre).

or initial years, intercrops can be taken. When intercropping is done choose wider spacing of 4m x 2m (near about 600) or 6m x 1.5m or 8m x 1m. Crops like turmeric and ginger or medicinal plants can be taken as intercrops. 2m x 2m is most widely used spacing.

Step 9. Caring

The eucalyptus plants generally require less caring and other management. Although, taking additional caring will help the plants to grow better. Here we are describing about the caring process of eucalyptus farming.

Fertilizing

The seedlings are transplanted in the main field 3 to 5 months after sowing. Seedlings are planted in pits with onset of monsoon.

Apply neem based nutrients along with Phosphate at the rate of 50 grams and vermicompost at the rate of 250 grams per pit during the time of planting. Neem based nutrient protect seedlings from termite damage.

In first year apply 50gm of NPK fertilizer per plant. In second year, apply NPK (17:17:17)@50gm per plant. Also take hand weeding operation and keep check on weed growth.

The eucalyptus plants generally require less water. Although, irrigation should be carried out as soon as seedlings are transplanted in the main field.

Drip irrigation can be adopted for keeping moisture content intact. However, number of irrigation depends on the soil type, weather conditions and moisture content in the soil.

Although, the eucalyptus is a drought tolerant tree, irrigation should be provided for better growth and good production. Especially, water the plants during the summer or hot dry season.

Mulching helps to retain moisture into the soil. And it also helps to control weeds from the garden. Use organic materials as mulch.

Controlling Weeds

Weeds consume nutrients from the soil. So always try to control the weeds from the field.

Thinning and Pruning

Thinning and pruning is essential in case of high density plantations. Mechanical thinning should be done after first year of planting. Remove the unwanted, weak and poor seedlings.

Thinning is actually done to get large size and straight poles. Exact number of thinning operations depends on objectives of the management.

In case of clones, no thinning and pruning is required up to harvesting stage. Pruning is required at the end of second year or after beginning of 3rd year.

Step 10. Control Pests and Diseases

Pests and diseases are less in commercial eucalyptus farming business. Beetles are the most common pests found for growing these trees. Contact your nearest agriculture department for controlling diseases.

Step 11. Harvesting and yield

Timely harvesting is very important for having good profits. Yield may vary depending on various factors. Yield depends upon farm management practices, plant density, climate etc. In 1m x 1m spacing, 25 tones per hectare in 4 years can be obtained. Whereas in 2m x 2m spacing, an average yield of 80 to 100 tonnes per hectare in 8 years can be expected.

Step 12. Marketing

Good profits from the eucalyptus farming business depends on your good marketing strategies. You will be able to make good profits from this business if you can market your products easily. So, determine your marketing strategies before starting this business. As the eucalyptus is a medicinal/herbal tree, so you can contact some herbal companies for selling your products.

These are the common steps and ways for starting and operating a successful eucalyptus farming business. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck and may Good bless you!

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Eucalyptus Cultivation Project Report, Cost, and Profits

Table of contents, scientific and botanical name of eucalyptus:, present situation of eucalyptus plantations:, growing conditions of eucalyptus plants:, eucalyptus cultivation practices:.

• Plantations Raised In Some Of the Important States:

Economic Aspects Of Eucalyptus Plantations:

Social aspects of eucalyptus plantations:, ecological effects of eucalyptus:, utilization of eucalyptus:, eucalyptus cultivation project report, economics, cost and profit analysis:, the cost of one plant is 30 rs. by planting eucalyptus clones, we will get wood from nearly 300 to 400 kgs/tree., yield and returns of eucalyptus cultivation:, eucalyptus plantation  loans and subsidies in india:, introduction to eucalyptus cultivation project report.

Today, let us discuss Eucalyptus Cultivation Project Report , and Eucalyptus Economics, EucalyptusCost, and Profits.

Eucalyptus is a rapidly growing tree. Its size varies from medium to tall reaching 20 to 50 meters in height and up to 2 meters in diameter approximately. The trees are periodically cut at the ground level to stimulate growth (coppicing) and containing a wide range of soil and climatic flexibility. Because of their predictable growth and adaptability to climate and usefulness, Eucalyptus trees are increasing and have been regarded as important trees for man’s development. Annual rainfall of 800 mm is preferred. The species grow under a broad range of climatic and soil conditions from temperate to hot, sub-humid to damp, and from good to degraded soils. The genus Eucalyptus was first described and named by the French botanist  L.Hertitie. Several species occur naturally in the landmass of Papua, Eucalyptus plantations occupy more than four million hectares in 58 countries.

Eucalyptus globulus Botanical Name: Eucalyptus globulus Common Name:

Morphological Characters of Eucalyptus: Leathery texture leaves hang obliquely or vertically, and are studded with glands containing a fragrant volatile oil. The flowers are covered with a cup-like membrane (where the name of the genus is derived from the Greek Eucalyptus), which is thrown off like a lid when the flower expands. The fruit is surrounded by a woody cup-shaped receptacle and contains numerous minute seeds. The trees grow quickly and many species reach a greater height. E amygdalin (Labille) is the tallest tree, reaches as much as 480 feet, exceeding the height of the Californian Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea). Most of the species give valuable timber. Many species of Eucalyptus trees yielding essential oils and the foliage of some being more odorous than that of others. The oils from the various species differ from each other.

Varieties around 170 species of Eucalyptus were tried in India. E. Hybrid, a form of E. tereticornis called Mysore gum was the most outstanding and favored species. It is fast-growing, capable of over-topping weeds and coppices well. It has the ability to adapt to a wide range of edapho climatic conditions. E. Grandis, E. citriodora, E. globulus, and E. camaldulensis are the other species that are grown on a plantation scale.

State Forest Departments and Forest Development Corporation planted Eucalyptus over 1,000,000 hectares. In addition to this, around 6,000 million seedlings have been planted in private lands.

Read this: Tulsi Farming Project Report .

Growing Season and Type:

• In general, the “forest trees” are single-stemmed and a minor proportion forms the crown out of the height of the whole tree. Even though the woodland tree has a branch at a short distance above the ground level, “Woodland trees” are single-stemmed.
• High temperature is required for Eucalyptus trees,  however, some species like E. Neglecta and  E. Crenulata, will tolerate semi-shaded areas.  They become accustomed well to a wide range of soils, from hot and dry sites to slightly wet as long as the area is well-drained.
• Plant Eucalyptus fall in mid to late spring or fall, depending on the location and climate.  Should water the tree both before and after planting.
• While planting, there’s no need to spread out the roots, as it could damage roots whil4 planting, as it should damage their sensitive root system. Backfill the area and lightly fill the soil to remove air pockets if any.

1.       Climate:

Climate Required for Eucalyptus Farming: Eucalyptus can be grown in a large variety of climatic conditions. However, it grows best in tropical to temperate climatic areas. In India, the Eucalyptus trees can be grown in regions with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 47°C.

2.      Temperature:

Another set of clones was accumulated in a shade house where temperatures ranging between 10 and 25 0 C and with a mean temperature of 15 0 C approximately. Plants with less photosynthetic rates were grown at 25/30 0 C have lower net when measured at 10 and 20 0 C.

3.       Water quality and production:

With increasing rainfall of 100 mm per year, Ground Net Primary Production (ANPP) increased by 2.3 Mg ha −1  per year. Eucalyptus  is most likely inhibited by water supply, and that water supply affects the efficiency of resource use as well as biomass allocation to roots, stems, and leaves substantially. On a regional scale, according to our results, higher productivity could produce the wood in a 6-year rotation.

Eucalyptus is a rapid growing, medium-sized to tall tree attaining 20- 50m in height and up to 2m in diameter. It is a strongly coppicing tree possessing a wide range of soil and climatic adaptability.  Eucalyptus is well known for its drought hardiness, even though annual rainfall of 800 mm is preferred. It grows under a wide range of climatic or soil conditions from warm to hot, sub-humid to humid, and from good to degraded soils.

Plantations Raised In Some Of t he Important States:

In India, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka cultivates this in  1,32,000 hectares of land.

Growing Stock Assessment:

The growing stock and yield in the Eucalyptus plantation vary considerably depending on the site, the edapho-climatic conditions, and the inputs. The potential productivity is around 5 tons of biomass on average, but the average production is some 2.5 tons per hectare per year. The average yield for the private plantations is much higher.

Eucalyptus species are not consistent in their growth and the variation is considerably depending upon the conditions under which they are grown may vary depending upon the site, selection of species, and their provinces, and yields have varied considerably.

In fact, in India, almost 85% of the wood produced ends up as firewood. In the majority of cases,  people are not in a position to pay for it. In Karnataka, the Eucalyptus wood which is marketed is used either as firewood or as pulpwood by the paper and rayon industries.

The pulpwood has a maximum value of Eucalyptus wood. The Farm Forestry Sector annually extracts and sells 150,000 tons of pulpwood to the industries. Farmers sell the wood to secondary industries (brick and tile manufacturing units),  after reserving the quantity required for domestic usage. The timber of Eucalyptus is also used as poles for scaffolding, transmission lines, and construction.  Finally,  plantations of  Eucalyptus gave IRR of 49 to 62.5 % at 8 years, and for bunk planting the B.C. The ratio was 1:1.55 and 1:2.27 in eight years of age.

Tremendous pressure has been exerted on natural forests in India as the population increases.  These are the main reasons for ecological degradation. Today there is enough food for people, but there is no sufficient wood to cook.

In  Gujarat, U.P, Punjab, Haryana, and Karnataka, the annual area planted for Eucalyptus has considerably reduced over the years. This is due to the disenchantment of the farmers, but not because of any ecological reasons,  as they were not able to get their expected price. Wherever the spacing has been spread and the rotation is approximately  9 years to produce larger material and the plantations are economical. Coming to Karnataka and West Bengal, the prices are remunerative due to demand from pulpwood industries. Group farming has helped the growers in West Bengal,  to obtain reasonable prices. The Cooperatives are formed not only to raise plantations collectively with proper inputs but also to ensure a remunerative market for the produce.

Read this: Frequently Asked Questions About Irrigation .

The three principal sites Devabal and Puradal (Shimoga) and Hosakote (Bangalore) were selected (Calder, 1991). The summary of the findings is:

• At the Puradal site, the water use by young eucalyptus plantation was not more than that of the indigenous Dry Deciduous forest.
• At both Puradal and Devabal sites, annual rainfall is equal to the Eucalyptus and indigenous forests (within the experimental measurement uncertainty of about 10%).

Nutrient use aspect:

Studies conducted in Eucalyptus hybrid plantations show that substantial amounts of nutrients are inputs to the soil through litterfall and stem flow.

Biodiversity aspects:

Eucalyptus plantations are economically grown in monoculture.  Eucalyptus plantations raised in the high rainfall zone in the past, indigenous species are allowed to come up after harvesting. The Eucalyptus was mixed with teak in Karnataka where eucalypt was mixed with teak after clear-felling moist deciduous forests, teak is allowed to grow along with the miscellaneous species which have come up from the rootstock. The Eucalyptus plantations are taken up in the barren areas of the dry zone at present.

Wildlife aspects:

There is an impression that Eucalyptus and wildlife do not go together. But it is true that the natural forest is a better habitat for wildlife. Eucalyptus plantation also supports wildlife. Birds are adaptable to still Eucalyptus plantations.

Fuel: Eucalyptus was not considered a good firewood and timber species. This is being disproved.  Due to the shortage of miscellaneous species, people have found that Eucalyptus is a very good substitute for firewood because of its calorific value and moderate burning qualities.

Charcoal: Eucalyptus gives good charcoal. Eucalyptus wood is used for charcoal manufacturing to meet the semi-urban and urban demand wherever farm forestry has flourished.

Poles:  Eucalyptus poles used in construction and dwelling houses, good for transmission purposes and are also used in work sheds and in mines.

Timber:   Eucalyptus wood was not considered a good timber earlier. The quality of the timber depends upon the species and to-climatic factors. Considering the cost of Eucalyptus timber, it is found to be quite economical to use in low-cost houses.  It is also used in making furniture.

Rural small-scale industries: Rural small-scale industries are developing at a fast rate. Examples are brick making, jaggery making, pottery, tile manufacturing, lime production, dyeing, smithy, etc. All these industries require firewood or charcoal provided by Eucalyptus plantations.

Honey and Oil:   Many species of Eucalyptus species are rich in pollen and nectar. The beekeeping business is profitable in India hence this activity is improving. Leaves of Eucalyptus globulus and E.citriodora are used for the extraction of oil.

Paper and pulp:   It is the most important use of Eucalyptus wood so far in the pulp and paper industry. The demand for paper and pulp is increasing day by day.

The Eucalyptus farming model shown below is estimated for 1 acre of land. The charge of the land is not included because it depends on the land, whether it is rented or owned. Transport,  post-harvest management charges may vary depending on the location of the farm and the local transport structure. It is to be noted that there could be other hidden costs of the entire process. 500 trees can be accommodated in one acre.

Biomass plantation of Eucalyptus requires the same high-density planting pattern as the Eucalyptus timber plantation.  Approximately 500 plants in one acre.

Cost of 1 kg of manure (urea+ Phosphate): Rs. 30.00

Labor cost per day: Rs 250 – 300

Cost of arranging the drip irrigation system for 1 acre of land: Rs 45,000- 60,000

Cost of 1 unit of power consumption on slab rate: Rs 2.50/unit < 30 units; Rs 3.70/unit for 31 – 100 units; Rs 4.85/unit for 101 – 200 units and beyond this it is Rs 5.85/unit

The average cost of other insecticides and the pesticide mixture with spray per kg: Rs 900.00

For water supply the cost of centrifugal pump settings depends on the manufacturer company and the capacity of the pump: Rs 5500.00.

60 %   of the growth of Eucalyptus established in the first 10 years. Most of these are growing at a rapid rate and attains a height of about 30 to 180 feet or more depending on the varieties.

Eucalyptus is a moderately large tree in general and attains a height of 40-60 feet and a diameter of 40-45 inches.

The trunk of the tree is generally straight and constitutes half of the total height. One tree costs, a minimum of Rs.1800-2000 after 5 yrs.

For 500 plants in one acre, we can get approximately Rs. 8,00,000 to 10,00,000. The profit is 8,39,000.00 (10,00,000-1,61,000).

All the Agricultural Developments Banks in Punjab advances a loan amount of Rs. 1,16,000, in eight equal yearly installments for 500 Eucalyptus planting in one acre.

NABARD provides post-harvesting loans at concessional rate of interest to small farmers up to Rs 3,00,000/-

In case if you are interested in this: Hydroponic Nutrient Chart .

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14 COMMENTS

I Want to start Eucalyptus farming in 20 acre at Moradabad in UP. can share information about Seed varieties.and also I need a agency which can do it with us.

how can i sale the eucalyptus tree ?? i have trees in chennai i couldn’t find any vendors here?? can you please help me by providing vendors??

I want the buyer of the eucalyptus tree. I am from Gujarat.

i have 20 acres of eucalyptus trees for selling in andhrapradesh, near vishakapatnam , i couldnt find any vendor, can you help me to find the vendors for buyign at good price

dear sir, please send me details with picture. regards

I want to start eucalyptus farming, can you guide me

Please inform regarding nilgiri plantation in details

I want the buyer of eyukeliptus I m from Moradabad.

I want to sell eucalyptus tree, planted in over 5 acres. Any buyers?

sir can u advise me where you got seeds for plantation.

It was planted in 2012. Got plants from our nearby nursery. Are you Buyer? approx. 500 trees of 8-9 yrs . any buyers can feel free to contact.

What is current market price of nilgiri tree? any info ?

What is current market price of a nilgiri tree? any info ?

I want start eucalyptus forming, can u guide me please,

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How To Start Commercial Eucalyptus Farming Business

The eucalyptus tree has tremendous commercial business potential. That is why the eucalyptus plantation is a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs. However, commercial farming demands an adequate area of land and investment for agricultural inputs including labor, irrigation, and saplings. Here in this post, we intend to explore how to start a commercial eucalyptus farming business.

The tree consists of over 500 species of trees. Additionally, it grows under a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions in its natural habitat. This is the one reason for the successful introduction of Eucalyptus into so many other countries in the world.

Economic Importance of Eucalyptus Farming

The wood yields a brownish pulp useful in the manufacture of wrapping paper and cardboard. Additionally, you can obtain good quality white pulp from the wood by sulfate and soda process. Also, you can mix it with spruce and other long fiber pulp, blue-gum pulp for producing high-grade pulp. In addition, you can prepare high alpha cellulose pulp by sulfite process which in turn prepares viscose rayon, an important synthetic fiber.

Health Benefits of Eucalyptus

Things to consider in commercial eucalyptus farming, best varieties for eucalyptus farming, agro climatic condition for eucalyptus farming.

Eucalyptus is versatile, fast-growing, and strongly coppicing tree possessing a wide range of soil and climatic adaptability. Additionally, the species is also moderately salt-tolerant and relatively fire-resistant. The species grows under a wide range of climatic/soil conditions from warm to hot, sub-humid to humid, and from good to degraded soils. However, it requires 4 cm to 40 cm of annual rainfall. Usually, you can grow eucalyptus within a temperature range of 0°C to 45°C.

Suitable Soil For Eucalyptus Farming

Commercial eucalyptus farming – basic steps, raising saplings.

You can raise saplings in two ways. Either you can propagate it from seeds or through vegetative propagation by cuttings (clonal propagation). Under nursery conditions, you can sow the seeds on raised beds under shade. You can achieve rapid and complete germination under moist, warm (25 – 35 0C) conditions in presence of light.

Transplantation

Owing to its fast growth, Eucalyptus is a heavy feeder and requires supplements in form of organic and chemical fertilizers in successive years. The deficiency of Nitrogen in soils is a limiting factor for growth and can reduce the yield by 60%. For maintaining soil fertility, it is advisable to raise Eucalyptus trees with legumes as an intercrop.

Plant Protection

You must have the proper arrangements for plant protection to save the plants from potential pests and diseases. One of the most serious diseases of E. Tereticornis is canker caused by the fungus, Corticium Salmonicolour known as pink disease. Other fungal pathogens to cause damage include, Ganoderma Lucidium, Endothia Gyrosa, and Cylindrocladium spp.

Harvesting & Yield

You can go for the first harvest after 5 years post-growing. On average, a single tree can yield up to 500 Kg of timber. However, a proper distance between the trees ensures higher yield in the eucalyptus farming business.

Eucalyptus Plantation Guide: From Seeds to Yield and Return

December 31, 2023

Eucalyptus plantation is a very profitable plantation business in India. Here is complete details on clone eucalyptus plantation including best eucalyptus seeds, technical requirements, plantation management, yield and return.

Eucalyptus is one among the widely cultivated evergreen trees belong to the botanical family of Myrtaceae and boasts more than 700 species. Even though, native to Australia and Tasmania, it is grown extensively in all major states in India including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Eucalyptus globulus, also refers to Blue Gum, which is the major source of high-grade eucalyptus oil has been used extensively in Indian, Chinese, Greek and European medicines to treat range of health conditions over the centuries. Also, known as nilgiri tree, safeda tree and gum tree, it earns high market value with its multi-use as pulpwood, timber, fuel wood, honey, biomass, and demanding essential oil. It can be resourcefully produced in agricultural lands both exclusively through monoculture or being a component of new generation agro-forestry program. Depending on species and plantation management, eucalyptus plants can attain a height from 10 m to 60m with enlarged stem.

Technical Requirements for Eucalyptus Plantation

Ideal soil for eucalyptus tree.

Perhaps one of the most appealing characterizes of eucalyptus is that, regardless of the type of soil from black soils to red soils and alluvial soils to infertile soil types, they can be grown successfully in mass and with quality. It has great tolerance to grow in extremely arid soil with high temperature.

It grows in abundance in the areas which experience rainfall within 250 to 600 mm annually. Similarly, it also grows quite well in the areas receiving as high as 1000- 1250 mm or even more rainfall.

Ideal Temperature for Eucalyptus Plantation

Typically, in course of germination to sowing in the lands and in early growth stage 25-35°C temperature is ideal while during harvesting 20-45°C is the desired range.

Normal sunlight after the seedlings reaches 6 months.

Clone Eucalyptus Plantation Using Micro Propagation

With adoption of innovative techniques and concepts, varied species of eucalyptus plant tissues have now been cultured to produce clones through micro propagation. Aside from increased and faster productivity with quality, E. hybrid offers a number of advantageous features adding to its popularity like fire resistance or overcoming weeds. It is notable that nearly 180 species of eucalyptus hybrids have been tried in India and among them one of a kind is E. tereticornis. In fact, the large scale production of E. tereticornis also recognized as Mysore gum has been meeting the greater than ever demand of pulpwood industries. Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore meanwhile has released four high productive Eucalyptus clones such as IFGTB-EC1, -EC2, -EC3 and -EC4, which are broadly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. No surprising, for potential farmers, the scope of clone eucalyptus plantation has opened a new sphere to attain greater market and profitability.

How to Plant Eucalyptus Seeds

Growing eucalyptus from seed needs managed germination of seeds. As an effective medium of germination, consider using a mixture of fine sand and soil in 1:1 to fetch the desired texture. Spring is the most ideal time for sowing eucalyptus tree seeds while depending on the climatic conditions, late spring can also be chosen. After, seeds are sown; the free-draining mother bed should be placed in shaded area and needs to be covered with static substances such as plastic. Also, soils can be used to cover seeds.

Germination method takes nearly 4-5 days and once seedlings are found to be 6-7 cm. they can be transplanted in nursery bed prior to placing them in well cultivated land. Periodic watering of the seedlings in the initial phase of development is a must. This should be noted carefully by planters intended to breeding that some of the key cause that impacts negatively on the effectiveness of propagation is over-watering, over-shading and allowing of germinant can lead to deformity of the roots. Therefore, once the plants reach 30-36 cm height, which takes nearly five to six months, transfer them from nursery tub and plant in the fields.

Eucalyptus Plantation Management

Rainy season is ideally the best period for planting the seedlings in the cropland. As said above, this should be done after 5-6 months as the seedlings attain the desired form for showing. Prepare the pits with soil mixed with neem based nutritional together with 50 grams of phosphate and 250 gram of vermicompost in each pit. Contextually, it is worth mentioning that, opposed to traditional method of composting, vermicomposting has been more popular in recent times due to its faster ability to treat natural wastes. The composting approach involves using of varied species of worms such as red wigglers, earthworms, white worms to create a fusion of decomposing food or vegetable wastes. Using neem based nutrient is essential that helps protect seedling from termite damaging. Application of 50 grams of NPK fertilizer in the first year and 50 grams of NPK (17:17:17) in the second year to each plant is essential. If dying back of the upper branches is found during the dry-season (Crown die-back) use 10-20 gram of borax to each tree depending on the intensity. Planters often experience crown die-back in uppermost tree branches caused by boron deficiency.

Even though, eucalyptus is known as drought tolerant plant, nevertheless for optimum productivity, it needs at least 25-30 sessions of irrigation in its entire growing cycle. And, this should begin immediately subsequent to transplantation in the main field. If monsoon is considerably insignificant, which is often experienced by farmers, consider providing protective watering in view of the need. Make sure to stay away from overwatering while drip-irrigation is always the best choice for eucalyptus plantation. Irrigation is mainly vital in the dry season as well, minimally in winter.

Prior to planting as well as throughout the growing stage, weeding of bushy unwanted plants is highly recommended. Weeds are the key cause that hinders the growth rate of the species. Especially in the early stages, the ability of seedlings remains very poor to fight back weeds. Areas that experience higher rainfall, consider more frequent weeding, negligence of which is likely to result in absolute planting failure.

For eucalyptus genres produced for pulpwood and paper making industries, recommended spacing of 3 m x 2 m, enables them to obtain wider stems. Similarly, wide spacing of 5m x 2m or 4 m x 2 m is essential when larger (30-60 m or more) plants are required. Plants produced for fuel purpose and others spacing of 2×2 m is ideal.

Agro-forestry Option

While eucalyptus is produced following both monoculture and Agro-forestry concepts, in order to attain an ecologically sustainable harvesting pattern and maximize yield from the land, with a spacing of 3×2, 4 x2 or 5×2 various annual crops such as paddy , wheat and different cereals can be produced effectively as an intercrop with eucalyptus plantation. Hence, depending on the tree spacing, type or hybrid, density and other parameters, decide on the type of product to be incorporated with diligence to reach desired outcome of Agro-forestry system.

Pest Control

In course of germination, growing seedlings are vulnerable to fungi and mold attack destroying leaves due to damping. Maintaining a standard 20-30° C. temperature in nursery setting and needed sunshine is essential. At the same time, after the seedlings are planted in the field, always avoid overwatering since, excess water pooling near tree roots can lead to root invasion and also causing leaf diseases. Termites affect planted seedlings and young trees must be chemically restricted. Consider applying Nimbicides 2ml /ltr of water and spurt with sprayers. Eucalyptus is often severely damaged by a harming insect called Leptocybe invasa which result in formation of galling structures in the stalks, leaves and stem causing drying leaves and unhealthy stem. In India, the pest attack is widely known as blue gum gall. Bordeaux mixture can be applied to save trees from Stem Canker attack.

Uses of Eucalyptus Tree

Most elements of a eucalyptus plant including its leaves, stem and barks are having multipurpose use. Oils extracts from leaves contain flavonoids, a plant based anti-oxidant and tennis helps magical to reduce joint pain, straining muscles and inflammation. Oils are also used in producing perfumes, cosmetics, industrial solvents, and dental medications. Eucalyptus is highly demanding in paper making industry for preparing pulp.

Yield and Returns from Eucalyptus Plantation

Remarkably, with the introduction of cloned (hybrid) species, yield from eucalyptus plantation per hectare has increased dramatically all over India. Simply put, whereas the yield in the 90’s was nearly 25-30 ton/ha after 7-8 on average in Tamil Nadu, now planters enjoy a yield of 60-75 ton/ha after the same span. In fact, depending on the success of clone quality and plantation management, after 5 years, a farmer can achieve an outcome of 100-150 tons per hectare from clone eucalyptus plantation.

When it comes to monetary outcome, farmers can get solid market demand, and depending on the type of produce, potential customers can range from pulp industry to medicine producers, furniture, honey makers and more. An expected, average weight of eucalyptus tree after 6 years can be nearly 250– 400 kg depending on the type of hybrid. Now, based on the market price and demand of that particular wood species one can earn fabulous all through the year from eucalyptus plantation project.

• http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/forestry/tree-crops/eucalyptus
• http://www.tnpl.com/Cultivation-Eucalyptus.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus
• http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/forestry/forestry_Eucalyptus.html
• http://www.fao.org/3/ac772e/ac772e06.htm

2 thoughts on “Eucalyptus Plantation Guide: From Seeds to Yield and Return”

1.is it a fact or myth that Eucalyptus depletes water resources? 2.where to procure hybrid Eucalyptus saplings in Tamilnadu? What would be the prices? Will be grateful for a reply.

Where would I get the best hybrid seeds that can grow in 2-3 years to its full .

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Eucalyptus Plantations: A Boon for Farmers and the Paper & Plywood Industry

Eucalyptus, a fast growing short rotation tree is among one of the best commercial species for agro-forestry on farmlands. Eucalyptus trees are harvestable within 8 to 10 years of short rotation for production of timber. Alternately, eucalyptus plantations can be raised for poles and paper pulp at 4 -5 years’ rotation. Eucalyptus plantations must be raised, given the tree’s significant impact on wood availability, livelihood generation and carbon sequestration. The Indian pulp, paper and plywood industry has agroforestry roots and strong backward linkages with the farming community, from whom wood, which is a key raw material, is sourced. India is a wood fibre-deficient country. Inadequate raw material availability in the country is a major constraint for the domestic paper / timber industry which impacts its cost competitiveness.

The forestry programme initially started with the production & planting of Eucalyptus seedlings. The major research and development emphasis has been on genetic improvement of planting stock and improvement in “package of practices” used by growers to increase productivity & yield. Significant gains in productivity of eucalyptus have been achieved through vegetative propagation and cloning techniques and exploitation of existing useful variation. Clonal plants are vegetatively propagated plants from a single mother tree having most desirable genetic qualities. Trees raised from each superior clone will be uniform, true to type and fast growing. Productivity of clones is higher compared to normal seedlings of eucalyptus. Productivity of clones released for commercial plantations, ranges between 20 and 58 cubic meter per hectare per year under un-irrigated conditions compared to 6 to 10 cubic meters per hectare per year productivity of eucalyptus plantations raised from available seed sources. Several intra-specific and inter-specific hybrids of eucalyptus have been developed through controlled pollination. Development and deployment of locality-specific, high-yielding, fast-growing and disease resistant clones has been followed by rapid adoption and raising of large-scale commercial clonal eucalyptus plantations.

Over the last two decades, to meet the growing wood requirement, the pulp, paper and plywood industry joined hands with farmers, leading to the creation of a sustained wood resource base of more than 3 million hectares of plantations, under agro/farm forestry. About 70 per cent of these plantations are of eucalyptus. This could be made possible by massive investment of resources by the industry to bring in genetic improvement and development of highly productive and disease-resistant clones, which increased plantation productivity of agro forestry plantations making these extremely viable for farmers, in terms of competitive land use.

Eucalyptus Plantations: Facts

• Eucalyptus is an excellent industrial species, which provides timber for poles, pulp, plywood and fuel wood. It can be used to afforest fallow and low productive lands, especially in areas with no assured irrigation.
• Major advantage of the eucalyptus plant is the content of “Hemicellulose”. This content handles qualitative performance in pulp and paper manufacturing. They not only help in pulp manufacturing, but also in fibre bonding capacity, water retention strength etc. Hemicellulose management allows differentiating pulps, improving or worsening properties of paper sheets.
• Eucalyptus species are also producers of oil. The oil is mainly used in making soaps, massage oil, air fresheners and bug repellent. In addition, it can be used in therapeutic applications such as Ayurveda treatment, skin allergies, wound treatments, respiratory problems.
• Eucalyptus is also an inordinate producer of charcoal. Eucalypt wood is used for manufacturing charcoal to meet the demands in urban areas.

There are some myths associated with Eucalyptus plantations, which have been proven to be not true by research data and publications. The water use of a Eucalyptus plantation has been found to be 785 litres/kg of total biomass, which is one of the lowest if compared with tree species such as Acacia (1,323 litres/kg), Dalbergia (1,484 litres/kg) and agricultural crops such as paddy rice (2,000 litres/kg) and cotton (3,200 litres/kg). A report published by Vinayakrao Patil, an eminent forest scientist, titled “Local Communities and Eucalyptus—An Experience in India” (1995), mentions that (a) Eucalyptus does not compete for ground water and other nutrients with crops in its vicinity; (b) Eucalyptus does not need plenty of water and does not drain away subsoil water; (c) Eucalyptus does not cause degradation of land and does not hamper soil fertility.

Eucalyptus Plantations: A Boon

Every year, around 150,000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations are grown in India, which generate 70 million man-days of employment. As per the CSE report, a eucalyptus plantation yields more net income than almost 70 percent of agricultural crops and plays a major role in increasing future farm income. Eucalyptus clonal plantations, in agro forestry system have mitigated climate change provided an alternative income stream and has generated significant employment opportunities for the local community thereby checking the rural-urban distress migration.

The farm forestry sector annually extracts 150,000 tons of pulpwood to the industries. Farmers sell the wood to secondary industries (brick and tile manufacturing units), after reserving the quantity required for domestic usage. The timber industry also plays an important role in the market value of eucalyptus. Timber is used for manufacturing poles and different types of constructions for transmission lines.

It is, therefore, critical that eucalyptus plantations are raised, given its significant impact on wood availability, livelihood generation and carbon sequestration that addresses the challenges of global warming and climate change. It would be important to note that eucalyptus plantations under the agro / farm forestry programmes are not water guzzlers as is wrongly perceived by some.

Contribution of UKPL in the Value Chain of Eucalyptus Plantations

UKPL’s Agro Forestry Initiative is now a successful inclusive and sustainable model in many Indian villages. The Initiative introduced agro forestry as an additional revenue source for farmers, by

• Supplying excellent high yielding soil and climate specific clonal saplings
• Robust Extension services to farmers
• Training on plantation techniques
• Building market linkage for the wood with Wood Based Industries

UKPL enables local communities to move onto a path of self-sustainability, and paper & Plywood manufactures to source raw material from local catchment areas. After years of R&D and trials, Eucalyptus clones have been released for commercial plantations. UKPL clone production progress is backed by robust R&D working towards  release of new and better clones to the farmers for maximum yield.

UKPL’s agro forestry program is currently operating in several districts in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. So far more than 50,000 hectares of trees have been planted, benefiting more than 60,000 farmers.

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Crops for Energy

Energy crops | biomass energy | renewable energy solutions, planting eucalyptus read our planting guide first.

Kevin with 30 month old E. glaucescens.

It’s possible to plant Eucalyptus all over the British Isles but you need to make the right choice of species and plant according to best silvicultural practice. Many early trials failed as a limited range of frost susceptible species were used. However, the Eucalyptus genus is very diverse with many trees thriving in high altitudes in their native Australia (e.g. Blue Mountains and Central Tasmania) so there are many that can tolerate frost, exposure and wet sites. We sell 17 species cover all types including high yielding lowland species to more “bulletproof” species that are probably as tolerant to extremes as any native tree.

There are two main constraints to planting Eucalypts widely in UK:

• the most important factor is the duration of cold temperatures (for instance prolonged cold snaps of over two weeks) and
• Out of season radiation frosts – these are not generally common within oceanic/low altitude sites
• Water is the carbon building block for wood/cellulose
• Although Eucalypts tend to be more water efficient and productive than other trees they still need adequate supplies.

For planting Eucalypts, it is important that care is taken to:

• Avoid frost hollows
• Avoid waterlogged sites
• Site latitude
• Site altitude
• Broad climatic character

We recommend using the Forestry Commission’s Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System as a guide. However, please note that this only covers two Eucalyptus species – ( E. gunnii which is frost tolerant and E. nitens which is more frost susceptible). If in any doubt please provide us with details of your site and conditions we will make recommendations. If you are planting at scale it makes sense to have a site visit so we can give expert advice on the ground.

In establishing a Eucalyptus plantation customary silvicultural practices needs to be adhered to for the trees to establish successfully and thrive. This includes:

• Clear ground for planting by spray/mechanical means
• Mound to give a clear planting area
• Ripping soil to minimise compaction

E. glaucescens planted through membrane in order to suppress weeds.

• Appropriate spacing (see below)
• Make slightly bigger hole than the plug plant (a bulb planter is useful for this), add some top soil or compost and then make sure that all the plug is submerged
• Use of treeguards to give some protection and prevent damage from herbivores
• Planting through membrane or use of mulch mats recommended for micro plantations (< 300 trees)
• Post plant weeding is necessary to reduce competition prior to canopy closure
• Planning for SRF initial harvesting operation from 4-5 years of age

For more information on basic silvicultural practices we recommend reading Cultivation of lowland sites for new woodland establishment .

Eucalyptus glaucescens 

For long rotation forestry involving Eucalypts we would recommend a stocking rate of 1,666 per hectare (3 m x 2 m).

For short rotation forestry (SRF) you should be looking at closer spacings such as:

• 2,000 plants per hectare (2.5 m by 2 m)
• 2,500 plants per hectare (2 m x 2 m)

We suggest going with the closer spacings in more exposed conditions. When smaller numbers of trees are planted it is better for the trees to be planted in tight groups leaving vistas, or open ground between the groups as this provides a micro climate. Planting isolated groups is relatively ineffective and should be avoided.

Adaptable species

Eucalyptus as part of 6m wide , 100 m long shelter belt

The mountain gums such as E.gunnii and E.coccifera are much more cold tolerant and will sustain cold winter winds. These should be planted along an exposed edge of the plantation in a hedge like formation to give future pruning access. They are useful near coastal sites as they will provide some protection from salt laden winds.

Eucalyptus trees do not tend to thrive in waterlogged conditions but there are a few that are better suited to wet sites such as E. rodwayii , E. johnstonii and E. aggregata .

Eucalypts can be mixed with native trees in shelterbelts. The eucalypts will tend to be the faster growers and the backbone of the shelterbelt whilst the natives will increase biodiversity.

If you would like to plant Eucalyptus in 2020 then there are limited stocks still available. See our plug plant price list here . 

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Farming the eucalyptus tree for its big money

What you need to know:.

• Eucalyptus is the tree species of choice for many commercial farmers because it is multipurpose, fast-growing and has a ready market.
• A farmer can reap from growing eucalyptus trees by applying the right agronomy, writes Lominda Afedraru.

Natural forests and woodlands across Africa can no longer keep pace with the required demand and the resulting deforestation is degrading the environment. Agriculture too is expanding into natural woodlands and forests therefore the need for farmers to take up growing various tree species eucalyptus being a major one both for forest cover, energy usage, timber and construction work. In a 2011 paper published by Kilmo Trust about growing of hybrid eucalyptus species in East Africa, it is stated that wood is an embedded and vital part of the lives of most people in East Africa. Poor rural and urban communities in particular rely on wood for energy and for construction. The statistics indicates that in 2007 the demand for wood in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda was more than 94 million cubic metres mainly for cooking. Against this background, science experts specialised in tree breeding note that it is important for farmers in East Africa including Uganda to take up growing of eucalyptus trees because of its economic viability. Best eucalyptus species The former Director National Forest Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI) Dr Francis Osoto Esegu explaining best agronomy practices farmers growing eucalyptus can adopt notes that there are over 100 species in existence in the country but only five to eight species are well adopted by farmers. The major specie being eucalyptus grandis and saligna species which is suited to cooler and wetter areas around Lake Victoria belt and eucalyptus camaldulensis which grows well in hotter and drier climates. He explains that eucalyptus grandis grows across the country as long as the area is moderately wet including the highlands in Western Uganda and the West Nile region. Giving the history he says eucalyptus was introduced in Uganda in 1898 from Australia in the botanical area in Entebbe. This was to control sucking of swampy water that harbors mosquitos in the country. The species were eventually taken to Mbale in Eastern Uganda, Masaka and farmers throughout the country adopted it mainly as a source of energy and for construction. Farmers are now growing clonal hybrid eucalyptus salicola species across the country. Drier areas such as the Karamoja region, eucalyptus ellipsoidea species suits best because it is drought prone. Dr Osoto explains that NaFORRI tested about 12 hybrid eucalyptus species across the country and eucalyptus grandis and eucalyptus saligna were planted in southern Uganda and eucalyptus camaldulensis and eucalyptus tereticornis were planted in the relatively drier eastern and northern regions which most farmers in the respective regions have adopted.

Best agronomy He explained that it is important for farmers to know that they can plant eucalyptus seedlings bred in a nursery as well as cloned hybrid varieties. Most traditional species can be grown directly from eucalyptus seed planted in a nursery bed. It is important to use light potting mix with sand. The seed should have been kept moist before planting in the pot. It should be sown on top of the soil surface and covered with a fine soil layer. The seedlings should be placed in bright light immediately after germination for proper sprouting. Light necessary for root development. Once it grows forming two to three leafs then it is ready for transplanting in the field. This should be done when the rains start probably in the month of March and April. However most farmers are now growing cloned hybrid species where the seedlings are raised in a nursery bed through cuttings. It is important to select a young tree stem from a preferred species because older stems may not produce roots. The cuttings should be three to five inches long and have four to eight leaves. Use pruning shears to make a clean cut just below a leaf node. Set the cuttings in a bucket of water.

Pests and diseases According to Dr Osoto the commonest pest destroying eucalyptus tree in farmer fields’ from tender stage is philid, a tiny insect which sucks up water from the leaves causing drying. Other soil bone diseases include powdery mildew which is a fungal disease that forms a whitish coating and causes young leaves to curl. Mycosphaerella leaf spots found on older leaves of most eucalyptus hybrid clones and local species, phytophthora root rot which affects mother trees used for producing cuttings. It rots the roots and after wilting, the leaves, stems, and roots all die. Cylindrocladium is a disease that prevails in humid climates and it attacks cuttings of clones during rooting causing scourges on young seedlings. The solution is for farmers to control by spraying the clones with Ridomil (Benlate) and Milraz chemical sprays.

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Its value Dr Osoto explains that farmers may sell hybrid trees that have grown for two to three years measuring 6cm for pole usage. In a year, cloned varieties grow about three meters depending on the agronomy practice. For a permanent construction the growth period should be five to six years and for timber about 12 years and above. Traditional trees bred through seed require 6 - 8 years for pole usage and over 12 years for good timer processing.

Economic viability To Dr Osoto growing of Eucalyptus is a viable income generating initiative for farmers to take up. It serves as woodland forest for climate change adaptation and business related activities when processed. Farmers are advised to grow them in 5 – 10 acre land or beyond in order to reap big.

Myths Dr Osoto notes that it is a myth that most people think eucalyptus trees drain water thereby causing soil degradation. To him there are crops such as tea and sugarcane which drain a lot of water and soil nutrient to grow. As long as a farmer practices the right agronomy, eucalyptus trees according to him are just like any other crop that requires the necessary nutrients to grow.

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Tree Farming Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Tree Farming Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their tree farming companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a tree farming business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a tree farming business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Tree Farming Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your tree farming business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Tree Farming Business

If you’re looking to start a tree farming business or grow your existing tree farming company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your tree farming business to improve your chances of success. Your tree farming business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Tree Farming Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a tree farming business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for tree farming companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a tree farm.

If you want to start a tree farming business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your tree farming business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of tree farming business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a tree farming business that you would like to grow, or are you operating an established tree farm that you would like to sell?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the tree farming industry.
• Discuss the type of tree farming business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of tree farming business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of tree farming businesses:

• Christmas tree farm: This type of business grows and sells trees for Christmas such as various types of pine and fir trees.
• Fruit tree farm: This type of business grows fruit-bearing trees such as apple, orange, or peach trees and sells the fruit produced.
• Lumber or timberwood tree farm: This type of business grows trees to be cut into timber or lumber to be processed or used for construction of buildings or furniture. Trees for this type of farm include walnut, birch, and cherry.

In addition to explaining the type of tree farming business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, the number of trees planted, and reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the tree farming industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the tree farming industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your tree farming business plan:

• How big is the tree farming industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your tree farming business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your tree farming business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of tree farming business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your Tree Farming Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other tree farming businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. Depending on the type of tree farm you operate, this can include other types of fruit tree farmers, retailers of artificial Christmas trees, or producers of alternative building materials like plastics and recycled fibers. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of tree farming business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for customers to acquire your products and services?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a tree farming business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of tree farming company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you sell fruit, lumber, or Christmas trees?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your tree farming company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your tree farming business located in a rural area, close to the highway, or in a suburbs? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your tree farming marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your tree farming business, including meeting with potential customers, scheduling employees, sending invoices to customers and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to acquire your Xth customer, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your tree farming business to a new region.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your tree farming business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing tree farming businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a tree farming business or successfully running a small lumber company.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you grow 100 apple trees, and will each tree produce 250 apples per year? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your tree farming business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a tree farming business:

• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include photos of your tree farm or a list of harvesting equipment you own.  

Writing a business plan for your tree farming business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the tree farming industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful tree farming business.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Tree Farming business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to learn about Growthink’s business plan writing services .

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Alan McNarie: Burning Eucalyptus To Power The Big Island

The Big Island’s eucalyptus trees have been a financial albatross for two decades.

Now there may finally be a use for the trees: burn them for electricity.

Back in the 1990s, after the downfall of the sugar industry, large landowners on the Big Island were looking to do something with tens of thousands of acres of land on the Hamakua Coast so that it wouldn’t all flood onto the real estate market at once. So they decided to plant thousands of acres of fast-growing eucalyptus trees.

Agreements were drawn up to sell the trees to a large Japanese paper consortium called Oji-Marubeni. But in order to meet the consortium’s needs, the plan also called for the state and the County of Hawaii to grow timber on about 10,400 acres of land that they’d gotten from the sugar companies in settlement for back taxes.

That fostered a grassroots rebellion by Hamakua Coast residents.

They were angered by timber company planes that had over-sprayed their homes while applying Roundup and Garlon to kill the cane for eucalyptus planting and unimpressed by a financial plan that would have created only about a tenth of the jobs that once existed on the sugar plantations. They also wanted that state and county land reserved for small farms.

After hundreds of angry residents packed a DLNR hearing at a local high school gym in 1997, the agency backed down. The Oji-Marubeni deal collapsed, leaving over 30,000 acres of already-planted eucalyptus without a buyer.

Since then, the trees have mostly gone unharvested, though some were recently sold to a paper company in China.

Now the Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan by Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC to burn those orphaned trees to produce electricity.

Hu Honua, which has mainland financing and a board consisting mostly of Oahu business people, was formed to renovate a plantation-era power plant in Pepeekeo, a few miles north of Hilo, to produce electricity from eucalyptus and other biomass. The company would burn 30 to 40 truckloads of wood per day, producing up to 12 percent of the island’s electricity.

The project is moving forward after years of delay.

The company’s new owner, Island BioEnergy, has settled a federal lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Light Company over a termination of a previous power production agreement and a bill for $35 million in unpaid bills from Hawaii Dredging and Construction, which the previous owner had hired to renovate the plant.

Harold “Rob” Robinson, president of Island BioEnergy, says the company has hired a new contractor, California-based Performance Mechanical to complete the renovation.

The company says it will create about 200 temporary construction jobs and 30 permanent operations and maintenance jobs, with workers represented by local unions. The plant, they say, will spur other new jobs in local forestry, trucking and other industries.

Because the plant will produce power from trees rather than fossil fuels, the company claims it will be “carbon neutral.”

Opponents have challenged that assertion, noting all the fuel that will be burned by the logging trucks. But Robinson maintains that the trucks would run no matter who buys the wood and that his plant would use the wood near its source, rather than shipping it across the Pacific.

The project’s most vocal critics are its next-door neighbors.

In the years since the power plant shut down, the former cane fields around it have been converted into four agricultural subdivisions with a patchwork of small farms.

“Everybody’s got something: coffee that they sell, cattle that they sell, cacao, pineapple, lychee, longan, avocado, taro,” says Rosemary Gonzalez.

She and her husband Carlos live on a fruit farm on the closest lot to the power plant. The subdivisions own the private road that serves residents and the power plant.

The Gonzalezes and some neighbors have a number of worries, including noise from trucks and construction, as well as wear and tear on the road. They say the company has made no agreement yet to help with the road’s maintenance or deal with noise concerns.

Robinson says the company has discussed both daytime and nighttime scenarios for running the chipper plant.

He says all the plant’s components are being enclosed and insulated to limit noise to 55 decibels at the plant’s boundary. The trucks coming in the steeply sloping road through the subdivisions will be required to not use their noisy “jake brakes.”

Another critic is Henry Curtis of the environmental nonprofit, Life of the Land, which filed a motion to intervene in Hu Honua’s PUC hearing.

Of all the many PUC dockets he’s studied, he contends Hu Honua’s is the least fact-based. With the other cases, he maintains, “It’s always, ‘Here are the facts. This is why you should make decision this way,’”

“Whereas Hu Honua went out and hired a PR firm that went out and got a batch of letters of support, and then Hu Honua said, ‘look at these letters of support. We should win.’”

He notes that the plan contains a lot of speculation without commitments.

The company says it will get most of its wood from the Hamakua Coast, for instance. But it also reserves the option of bringing wood in from plantations around Pahala on the Kau coast—raising the specter of logging trucks snaking along narrow, winding roads and driving through downtown Hilo—or even importing wood.

Company spokespeople, including Robinson, have also talked about burning invasive trees such as albizia, but haven’t yet confirmed they will do so.

Curtis also wonders if the power is a good deal for consumers.

“Right now, we’re in a period of declining solar costs,” he said.  On the same day that PUC approved Hu Honua’s proposal to sell its power at an average of 21 cents per Kilowatt hour, it approved a Kauai solar project that would charge only 11 cents per kilowatt hour, Curtis noted.

Hu Honua’s average price over 30 years looks less than that of oil, though rate payers though the contract is actually expected to raise customer’s power bills for the first 11 years of the company’s HELCO contract.

Robinson argues that although solar and battery technology have improved recently, those still can’t generate power 24 hours a day.

“We’re a renewable that can replace on a one-to-one basis, a fossil fuel plant,” he says.

Robinson maintains that the Pahala option would only be exercised when that wood wasn’t available, as when soggy conditions made logging nearby unwise. As the timber companies harvest, he says, they will also be replanting, making the resource renewable.

The project also faces another opponent: time. Its financing (Robinson declined to say who the financiers were) may depend on earning a tax credit for renewable energy sources—a program that ends on Dec. 28, 2018. The plant must be finished and running by then.

While the PUC hearing was a major hurdle, the company may face others. Curtis notes that if the company actually wants to generate more megawatts, it may need to file for a new clean air permit. It may also face challenges to its planned use of injection wells for hot wastewater, if that water is proven to enter the sea.

Life of the Land or the other two intervenors, Tahiri Energy and the Consumer Advocate, may also challenge the PUC ruling.

“We’re carefully reviewing the PUC decision,”  Curtis says, “and will come up with our path ahead in the next few days.”

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36 Facts About Khabarovsk

Written by Abigail Hadden

Modified & Updated: 27 Jul 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Khabarovsk is a fascinating city filled with rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Located in the Far East region of Russia, Khabarovsk is the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai. With its intriguing past and flourishing present, it is a city that captures the imagination of both locals and tourists alike.

In this article, we will dive into 36 fascinating facts about Khabarovsk that will give you a deeper understanding of this captivating city. From its important role in the Russian Far East to its stunning architectural gems and delicious local cuisine, there is no shortage of interesting tidbits to uncover.

So, buckle up and get ready to explore the hidden gems and lesser-known details about Khabarovsk that will leave you amazed and eager to pack your bags for an adventure in this remarkable city.

Key Takeaways:

• Khabarovsk, the largest city in the Russian Far East, offers a diverse and vibrant cultural experience, with stunning natural landscapes and a warm, welcoming community.
• From the iconic Khabarovsk Bridge to the bustling Central Market, Khabarovsk is a city rich in history, art, and entertainment, making it a must-visit destination in the Russian Far East.

Khabarovsk is the largest city in the Russian Far East.

Khabarovsk is located on the banks of the Amur River and serves as an important economic and cultural center in the region.

The city was founded in 1858 by Yerofey Khabarov.

Yerofey Khabarov was a Russian explorer and adventurer who played a key role in the Russian exploration and colonization of the Far East.

Khabarovsk is named after its founder, Yerofey Khabarov.

The city was named to honor the pioneering spirit and contributions of Yerofey Khabarov.

The population of Khabarovsk is over 600,000 people.

With a diverse population, the city is home to people of various ethnicities, including Russians, Ukrainians, Koreans , and Chinese.

Khabarovsk experiences a humid continental climate.

The city has hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching as high as 35 degrees Celsius, and cold winters, with temperatures dropping below freezing.

The Khabarovsk Krai Administrative Center is located in Khabarovsk.

Khabarovsk is the administrative center of the Khabarovsk Krai region and is responsible for governing the surrounding areas.

The Trans-Siberian Railway passes through Khabarovsk.

Khabarovsk is a major stop along the famous Trans-Siberian Railway, connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East, China, and beyond.

Khabarovsk is known for its stunning natural landscapes.

The city is surrounded by picturesque mountains, forests, and rivers, offering residents and visitors alike a variety of outdoor activities and breathtaking views.

The Khabarovsk Bridge is one of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Spanning the Amur River , the Khabarovsk Bridge is a symbol of the city’s connectivity and serves as a vital transportation link.

Khabarovsk is a major industrial and transportation hub.

The city is known for its manufacturing industries, including machinery, food processing, and timber, as well as its busy river port and international airport.

Khabarovsk is culturally diverse.

The city’s multicultural population has contributed to a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and cuisines from different ethnic groups.

The Khabarovsk Regional Museum is a must-visit attraction.

Showcasing the history and culture of the region, the museum houses a vast collection of artifacts and exhibits.

Khabarovsk hosts the Amur Ice Hockey Club.

The local ice hockey team , known as the Amur Tigers, competes in the Kontinental Hockey League and has a passionate fan base.

The Khabarovsk Circus is famous for its spectacular performances.

Visitors can enjoy acrobatics, animal shows, and other dazzling acts at the city’s beloved circus.

The Lenin Stadium is a sports venue in Khabarovsk.

Named after the Russian revolutionary leader, the stadium hosts various sporting events, including football matches and athletics competitions.

Khabarovsk is home to several universities and educational institutions.

Students come from all over the country to study in Khabarovsk, contributing to the city’s vibrant academic community.

The Far Eastern State Technical University is located in Khabarovsk.

Known for its engineering and technical programs, the university plays a key role in shaping the region’s workforce.

Ice sculpting is a popular art form in Khabarovsk.

During the winter months, artists create intricate ice sculptures that attract locals and tourists alike.

The Khabarovsk Philharmonic Orchestra is renowned for its performances.

Music lovers can attend classical concerts and symphony performances at the city’s prestigious philharmonic hall.

The Khabarovsk Central Park is a favorite recreational spot.

The park offers beautiful gardens, walking paths, and amusement rides, providing a peaceful retreat for residents.

Khabarovsk has a thriving dining scene.

From traditional Russian cuisine to international flavors, the city boasts a wide range of restaurants and eateries to satisfy every palate.

The Khabarovsk State Puppet Theater entertains both young and old.

Families can enjoy captivating puppet shows and theatrical performances at this popular venue.

Khabarovsk celebrates the Dancer’s Day festival.

Every year on the second Saturday in August, the city comes alive with music, dance performances, and parades to honor the art of dance.

The Khabarovsk Drama Theater showcases a variety of dramatic productions.

The theater is known for its talented actors and captivating performances, attracting theater enthusiasts from near and far.

Khabarovsk has several beautiful Orthodox churches.

These architectural gems are not only places of worship but also important cultural and historical landmarks.

The Khabarovsk Regional Art Museum features works by local and international artists.

Art enthusiasts can explore a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artistic creations at this prestigious museum.

Khabarovsk has a vibrant nightlife scene.

The city offers a range of bars, clubs, and entertainment venues where locals and visitors can unwind and dance the night away.

The Khabarovsk Theater Square is a popular gathering place.

Lined with trees and adorned with statues, the square serves as a meeting point for friends and a venue for outdoor concerts and events.

Khabarovsk is a gateway to the Russian Far East.

The city’s strategic location makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the natural wonders and unique cultures of the region.

The Khabarovsk Regional Library is a treasure trove of knowledge.

With a vast collection of books, magazines, and digital resources, the library is a haven for bookworms and researchers.

Khabarovsk has a strong sports culture.

Residents actively participate in various sports and athletic activities , fostering a healthy and active lifestyle.

The Khabarovsk Local Lore Museum preserves the history of the city.

Visitors can delve into the past and learn about the city’s origins and development through interactive displays and exhibits.

The Khabarovsk Central Market is a bustling hub of commerce.

Here, locals can find fresh produce, delicious local delicacies, and a wide variety of goods and products.

Khabarovsk is famous for its vibrant festivals and events.

Throughout the year, the city hosts a range of celebrations, including the Khabarovsk City Day and the Far Eastern Crafts Fair .

The Khabarovsk Botanical Garden is a tranquil oasis.

Nature enthusiasts can explore the lush greenery, beautiful flowers, and rare plant species within this peaceful garden.

The people of Khabarovsk are known for their warm hospitality.

Visitors to the city are greeted with open arms and a friendly smile, making them feel welcome and at home.

In conclusion, Khabarovsk is a fascinating city that offers a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. From its picturesque waterfront and parks to its impressive landmarks and museums, there is much to explore and discover in this vibrant Russian city. Whether you’re interested in learning about its intriguing past, indulging in local cuisine, or simply enjoying the stunning surroundings , Khabarovsk has something to offer for everyone. So, why not plan a visit and immerse yourself in the charm and allure of this unique destination?

1. Where is Khabarovsk located?

Khabarovsk is located in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia , near the border with China.

2. What is the best time to visit Khabarovsk?

The best time to visit Khabarovsk is during the summer months of June to August when the weather is pleasant and the city comes alive with festivals and outdoor activities.

3. How can I get to Khabarovsk?

Khabarovsk is well-connected by air, rail, and road. You can reach the city by taking a flight to Khabarovsk Novy Airport or by train from major Russian cities like Moscow and Vladivostok .

4. What are some must-visit attractions in Khabarovsk?

Some must-visit attractions in Khabarovsk include Khabarovsk Krai Museum, Lenin Square, Amur Cliff, and Muravyov-Amursky Street.

5. Is Khabarovsk a safe city for tourists?

Khabarovsk is generally considered safe for tourists. However, it is always advisable to take usual safety precautions and be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.

6. Are there any outdoor activities in Khabarovsk?

Yes, Khabarovsk offers plenty of outdoor activities such as boat trips along the Amur River, hiking in the nearby national parks, and enjoying picnics in the city’s beautiful parks and gardens.

7. Is English widely spoken in Khabarovsk?

English is not widely spoken in Khabarovsk, but you can usually find English-speaking staff at major tourist attractions, hotels, and some restaurants.

8. Are there any local specialties to try in Khabarovsk?

Yes, Khabarovsk is known for its delicious local cuisine. Some popular local specialties include ukha (fish soup), pelmeni (dumplings), and vareniki (stuffed dumplings).

9. Can I use credit cards in Khabarovsk?

Credit cards are widely accepted in major establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, it is always advisable to carry some cash for smaller vendors and local markets.

10. Are there any day trips or excursions from Khabarovsk?

Yes, there are several day trips and excursions you can take from Khabarovsk, such as visiting the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, exploring the historic city of Blagoveshchensk, or taking a boat tour to the Bolshoi Ussuriysky Island.

Khabarovsk's captivating history, cultural diversity, and natural beauty make it a truly unique destination. From its vibrant sports scene, including the local football club , to the fascinating Negidal people who call the region home, there's always more to explore. Don't miss the chance to learn about Komsomolsk-na-Amure, another city in the Khabarovsk Krai with its own set of intriguing facts and stories.

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Khabarovsk: Keystone of the Russian Far East

Photographs by William Brumfield

By rail, the city of Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East is a six-day, 5,300 mile journey from Moscow. Given the distance, it’s unsurprising that most visitors prefer to make the trip by air. The nine-hour flight has the added advantage of giving travelers a dramatic overview of the Amur River on the approach.  

Indeed, Khabarovsk is a city of two great strategic rivers: the Amur, which flows eastward along the border with China; and the Ussuri, which flows northward some 560 miles from its origins in the southern Sikhote-Alin Mountains, not far from the Sea of Japan. The confluence of these two rivers near Khabarovsk, and the state boundaries they define have created one of the most important geopolitical zones in northern Asia.   

Russian explorers attempted to gain control of the north bank of the Amur as early as the 1640s, but Russia was compelled to abandon the area by the Treaty of Nerchinsk, signed in 1689.  Russian troops did not return to the region in substantial numbers until the mid-19 th century, under the leadership of Governor-General Nikolai Muravyov.

He was later given the title “Amursky” for his role in acquiring the territory for the Russian empire. In the Treaty of Aigun (1858), negotiated with the Qing Dynasty, China ceded to Russia territory north of the Amur and east of the Ussuri.

Khabarovsk arose as a consequence of the Treaty of Aigun. The first Russian settlement was established in May 1858 by a detachment of Siberian troops under the command of Captain Yakov Dyachenko. The post was initially named Khabarovka in homage to the renowned 17th-century Cossack leader Yerofei Khabarov, who explored the area.

The settlement rapidly expanded, and by 1864 it already had a formal plan for development on hilly terrain along the left bank of the Amur. A telegraph line to Vladivostok began operating in 1868, and a proper river port was completed in 1874. By the end of 1880, Khabarovsk had gained over 4,000 inhabitants and an official status as a town.  

How to get there

To get to Khabarovsk from Moscow of St. Petersburg take a regular flight. The trip takes approximately 7,5 hours.

Entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the development of river trading routes were quick to settle in the young town, which offered considerable potential for commerce with China. Progress in transportation also led to increased government authority. In 1884, Khabarovsk became the administrative center of a vast area stretching from the Amur River to the Pacific.  

The town’s status was further enhanced in late May 1891 when the heir to the throne, Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (subsequently Nicholas II) included Khabarovka on the itinerary of his nine-month-long world tour.

At the time of his visit, the town unveiled a heroic monument to Muravyov-Amursky by the noted sculptor Alexander Opekushin. Dismantled during the Soviet period, the monument has since been restored to a prominent position overlooking the river. In 1893, the town’s name was changed from Khabarovka to the more formal Khabarovsk.

Perhaps the greatest catalyst for the town’s early growth was the completion of a rail line from Vladivostok in 1897. Khabarovsk now had a direct link to a growing international port, even as it controlled interior river traffic over the extensive territory of the Amur River basin.  

The town’s strategic location was not lost on military planners, who developed local machine factories to equip the armed forces of the Far East. At the same time, Khabarovsk, like the rest of Russia, experienced severe labor and military unrest in 1905-06 following the country’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War.

With the return to stability under Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin (1862-1911), Khabarovsk continued its rapid growth. During the three decades from 1884 to the beginning of World War I, the population increased more than 10-fold. And in 1908, Khabarovsk became the headquarters of the Amur River Flotilla, with responsibility for patrolling the long frontier with Manchuria.  

In 1914, connections were improved with the Trans-Siberian Railway, which gave Khabarovsk access to distant Moscow and St. Petersburg. At that time, however, the rail route to the Russian Far East still went through Manchuria along the Chinese Eastern Railway.

The town was linked directly to eastern Siberia only in 1916, with the completion of a bridge across the Amur just to the northwest of Khabarovsk. Built in difficult conditions within three years, the bridge was one of the major achievements of Russian engineering.  

To this day the attractive, often imposing architecture of central Khabarovsk reflects the prosperity of the town at the turn of the 20 th century. Using an eclectic mixture of neoclassicism and medieval Russian elements, architects designed enduring, well-built structures for housing, commerce and administration. A peculiar local feature was the use of high quality, unstuccoed red brick for the structure, with gray brick for decorative trim.  

The most visible indicator of prosperity and rising consumer demand was the large department store. Firms such as Kunst and Albers, which had stores in several towns, and the Pyankov Brothers used architecture to create an impressive display for retail trade. The large Plyusnin building, subsequently converted to the Regional Library, contained one of the town’s many banks. The best of these buildings are on the main street, which is named after Muravyov-Amursky.  

Other historic buildings display the style moderne that was fashionable at the beginning of the 20 th century, with traces of traditional Russian decoration. The best example is the former building of the city council, now carefully restored.  

The Shrines of Kargopol: Preserving the art of the Russian North

The devastation of World War I occurred far from Khabarovsk, and the city actually grew with expanding military production. But the civil war following the Bolshevik Revolution caused major damage and disruption.

The last major battles of the Civil War occurred near Khabarovsk. Red partisan forces recaptured the town in early 1920, but they were suddenly attacked by the Japanese in April. Fierce fighting led to significant destruction in the central district. Instability continued until December 1921, when the city was retaken by a White army led by Viktorin Molchanov.

At the battle of Volochaevka in February 1922, Molchanov’s defenses were breached and Khabarovsk was retaken by Red forces, but not without further damage to the area, including partial demolition of the magnificent Amur River Bridge. Authority was vested in the Far Eastern Republic, a Communist ally that formally merged with the new Soviet state in November 1922.  

During the Soviet period, the expansion of Khabarovsk accelerated thanks to its strategic military, industrial and administrative position. The pace of growth is reflected in modernist buildings designed by prominent Constructivist architects such as Ilya Golosov, who built the large complex for the House of Soviets in 1929-30.

In the 1930s the Gulag concentration camp empire expanded and prison labor was used in construction. A number of building projects in Khabarovsk were undertaken by the NKVD, which preferred a pompous neoclassical style. Relics of that time include the GlavDalStroi Building and the Commune House, all on Muravyov-Amursky Street.

World War II, like the first, occurred far from Khabarovsk, but the city played a major role in defending the Far East from a Japanese attack. And it served as headquarters during the brief Soviet-Japanese War in August 1945

Liavlia and Zaostrovye: Enduring traditions in the Arkhangelsk Region

Greatly expanded after the war, Khabarovsk maintained its momentum into the post-Soviet period. The city’s vitality is reflected in the improved appearance of Muravyov-Amursky Street, from a renovated Lenin Square to Cathedral Square, with its new Dormition Cathedral visible from the Amur. In 2004 the Transfiguration Cathedral was consecrated on Glory Square near the river.

With a population of just over 600,000, Khabarovsk has witnessed a building spree of contemporary apartment houses in colorful post-modernist forms. And the city’s good management was acknowledged in 2000 when it was chosen as the headquarters of the Far Eastern Federal District.

In the late summer of 2013 the Khabarovsk area experienced a record-setting flood of the Amur, but the main part of the city — on high ground — avoided the worst of the destruction. Among the city's promising economic developments is its pivotal role in the massive "Strength of Siberia" gas pipeline project, which will link the gas fields of Yakutia to the rapidly expanding Chinese market. With its well-maintained central district, Khabarovsk preserves its heritage as it looks to the future.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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