Key points about Sal seeds:
- Odisha has no major solvent extraction plant that produces oil from sal seeds, due to which the intermediaries procure the seeds from the state at a lower rate and sell them at a higher rate to the oil companies of other states
- The state of Odisha has a rich depository of sal seeds accounting for 25 per cent of the country’s production, which played a significant role in the economics of the tribal people in the state.
- Other major Sal seeds producing states include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
About Sal Tree:
- It is a large sub-deciduous tree which is seldom completely leafless.
- It is indigenous to India and occurs in two main regions separated by Gangetic plain namely the northern and central Indian regions.
- It requires well-drained, moist and sandy loam soil.
- Climatic conditions required: It survives upto a maximum temperature of 36°C to 44°C and minimum temperature of 11°C to 17°C and it needs an average rainfall of 1000 mm to 3500 mm per annum.
- The resin of this tree is used in the indigenous system of medicine.
