Teak (Sagwan) Plantation — Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh holds India's largest teak (Tectona grandis) forest reserves — both natural and plantation — in Balaghat, Chhindwara, Betul, and Hoshangabad districts. Teak is the most valuable commercial timber in the world for its durability, resistance to termites and weather, and beautiful golden-brown grain. MP's natural teak forests are managed by the MP Forest Department under scientific silviculture (select-fell system). The Forest Development Corporation of MP sells teak at annual auctions attended by furniture manufacturers from across India. Teak timber goes into ship decks, railway sleepers, high-end furniture, and flooring. MP tribal communities have rights over bamboo and minor forest produce in teak areas but not teak itself. Social forestry programs from the 1980s planted teak in bunded patta land — farmers who planted teak in the 1990s can now sell mature trees for ₹8-15 lakh each. Agroforestry combining teak with turmeric or ginger under-planting provides dual income.