The worm affected mango wood coming from Bengal is creating problems for Jodhpur handicraft and furniture industry. According to media reports the foreign buyers have complained of insects in the mango wood. In such a situation there is an estimation that over 100 crores orders of the exporters can be affected. Industry people say that due to this carelessness of timber traders not only the exporters are suffering financial loss but the reputation of Jodhpur handicraft and furniture industry is also getting tarnished and they may have to face consequences in the coming time.
Dr. Bharat Dinesh, President, Jodhpur Handicraft Exporters Association said, “There is a problem of woodworm in the goods of Bengal as the timer of mango wood in Bengal is highly prone to wood-worm rather than UP and Gujarat mango wood. This is affecting our exports as well as the reputation of the industry. Because of this our orders have come down by half in the last six months and the exports have remained to 1000 containers now. The reason for such an issue is that proper chemical treatment of wood is not being done by a few timber traders. If this situation continues, then gradually our work will stop and the huge orders can be affected.”
“Although the exporters are alert, and they are holding such material before being exported to the party. The association has asked for the list of such timer traders so that proper action can be taken against them and the list can be circulated to the manufacturers and buyers,” he added. “The industry was picking up well after the situation of the pandemic came to relax across the globe but once again the cases are rising in Europe that has affected the orders,” he said
According to the exporters, the timber of Bengal mango wood is bought by the timber merchants due to being cheaper than the mango wood of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Also the timber may not have been given proper chemical treatment that is why the problem of insects and borer is being seen. Timber traders should be highly responsible for proper chemical treatment of wood according to the parameters with drying and seasoning for its storage to avoid such incidents.