How To Start Eucalyptus Farming Business – Complete Guide

Eucalyptus farming is a lucrative and sustainable agricultural venture, thanks to the tree’s fast growth, high demand, and versatile uses. From essential oils and timber to medicinal products, eucalyptus has a wide range of applications, making it a profitable crop for farmers. If you’re considering starting a eucalyptus farming business, this guide will walk you through the steps to get started.

Why Start an 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. Some of the reasons for launching an eucalyptus farm are mentioned below:

• High Demand: Eucalyptus is used in industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paper, and construction.
• Fast Growth: Eucalyptus trees grow quickly, often reaching maturity in 6–10 years.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, eucalyptus requires minimal care compared to other crops.
• Environmental Benefits: Eucalyptus trees absorb large amounts of CO2, making them eco-friendly.
• Profitability: With proper management, eucalyptus farming can yield high returns on investment.

Economic Importance of Eucalyptus Farming

Eucalyptus farming is beneficial both for the small farmers for-profit and subsistence and by large conglomerates for industrial wood supply. Certain species of eucalyptus yield valuable essential oils, whilst some also provide an excellent source of nectar for honeybees. Eucalyptus trees are a rich source of fuelwood, poles, timber, lumber, biomass, and essential oil.

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 to produce 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

• First of all, eucalyptus helps in treating sinus and allergies
• Eucalyptus essential oil has antiseptic qualities because of its germicidal quality.
• Also, it is effective for treating several respiratory problems including colds, coughs, runny noses, sore throats, asthma, nasal congestions, and bronchitis.
• Eucalyptus essential oil is very effective against cavities, dental plaque, gingivitis, and other dental infections owing to its germicidal properties.
• Additionally, the oil is also a bug-repellent and natural pesticide.

Things to Consider in Commercial Eucalyptus Farming

• Firstly, it must be remembered, that eucalyptus plantation is a long-term business. And you can only go for the first harvest after six years.
• Therefore, you must have the financial preparation accordingly.
• Choose the species carefully. Determine the specific reason for growing eucalyptus and select the species accordingly.
• Generally, the tree doesn’t demand adequate irrigation. However, you must have the preparation for irrigation in case of any drought situation.
• Before harvest, identify the customer for your product.

Best Varieties for Eucalyptus Farming

Some of the profitable commercial varieties are E Citriodora, E globules, E hybrid, eucalyptus Camaldulensis, FRI 4, and 5. In addition, clone varieties are also very popular. Some of the potential clone varieties are 3, 7, 271, 288, 316, 411, 413, and 2045.

Agro Climatic Condition For Eucalyptus Farming

Eucalyptus is a 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

You can grow eucalyptus in light, medium, and heavy soils. However, it thrives well in deep, rich, and well-drained loamy soil with sufficient moisture. Even, you can grow the hybrid species in alkaline and saline soils. PH balance of 6 to 7.5 is just perfect for growing eucalyptus commercially.

Read: How To Start A Soil Testing Service Business

7 Steps to Start a Commercial Eucalyptus Farming

1. Choose the Right Eucalyptus Species

There are over 700 species of eucalyptus, each with unique characteristics. Some popular species for farming include:

• Eucalyptus globulus: Used for essential oil production.
• Eucalyptus camaldulensis: Ideal for timber and firewood.
• Eucalyptus citriodora: Known for its lemon-scented oil.

Select a species based on your target market and local growing conditions.

2. Raising Saplings

You can raise saplings in two ways. One 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 the presence of light.

3. Transplantation

The next step is transplantation. According to the requirement of species, you have to prepare the field for transplantation. Additionally, maintain proper spacing and nutrients contained in the soil. Eucalyptus is intolerant to shade and does not compete well with grasses for water and nutrients, thus 2-3 hand weeding and soil working in the initial stages are essential.

4. Irrigation

Generally, eucalyptus plantations don’t demand any regular irrigation. However, protective irrigation is essential. In case of monsoon failure, you must provide protective irrigation.

5. Manuring

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

Also Read: Most Profitable Agriculture Business Ideas

6. Plant Protection

You must have the proper arrangements for plant protection to save the plants from 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.

7. Harvesting and 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.