The timber producing sector of India comprises of hundreds of small and medium scale wood companies which account for around 85% of the total output. Though, the bigger enterprises and exporters tactfully strike a decent balance with the smaller firms. The boom in the Indian furniture industry has got a lot to do with the growing housing and tourism sector. So much so, that for the next five years, furniture sector output is expected to grow by 15% per year!
The numerous Indian wood furniture manufacturers source the
raw material from the local agro forestry plantations. These plantations
mainly consist of the following wood type-Babul/Kikar (Acacia Arabica), Sissoo (Dalbergia Sissoo), Neem (Melia Azadirachta) and Mango (Mangifera Indica).
These woods are most often used to make antique style furniture pieces. Apart from the major furniture articles like sofa sets, dining table etc., smaller pieces of furniture such as wooden stools for household purposes, or wooden desks for schools etc. are also quite favored items.
Going by the booming trends of the Indian wood industry, the government of the country too has taken worthy steps for promoting the signature Indian wood work, wooden industries and plantation farmers in this particular sector. Currently the agro-forestry plantations are able to provide a sustainable harvest of approximately half a million cubic meters per year. Owing to the improvement trends in the wood industry, more than 150 sawmills have been reopened which has effectively generated business as well as employment in the sawmill sector. Together with this, a number of new industrial licenses for medium and large scale wood working units are lying pending for approval.
