News: In Mizoram, over 600 farmers have joined the collective to promote tung tree cultivation and organized marketing.
All About Tung Plantations
- The “Tung” tree is an evergreen tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
- Climatic and soil requirements:
- It grows best on hilltops or slopes, as good air-drainage reduces losses from spring frosts.
- Rainfall: At least 1,120 mm of rainfall evenly distributed through the year.
- Temperature: Trees require 350 – 400 hours in winter with temperatures 7.2°c or lower.
- Soil: Soils must be well-drained, deep aerated, and have a high moisture-holding capacity to be easily penetrated by the roots.
- Fruit bearing: It begin bearing fruit the third year after planting, and are usually in commercial production by the fourth or fifth year.
- Productive years: The trees typically remain productive for 24 years, reaching peak yields between 10 and 12 years of age.
- Production: Tung oil yields generally range from 300 to 450 kilograms per hectare, with the seed containing about 30-40% oil.
- Geographical distribution: It is cultivated in China, Argentina, Paraguay, Africa, India and United States.
- Features of tung trees:
- It can grow up to 9 m tall.
- It has large leaves, lobed or unlobed, attractive white flowers with reddish centres, and apple-sized globular fruit.
- Its leaves and seeds contain a toxic saponin.
- Tung oil is extracted from its nutlike seeds.
- About Tung Oil
- Properties: It is non-edible, antibacterial, weather-resistant, and possesses insecticidal properties.
- Use of oil for medicinal purposes: It is emetic, antiphlogistic and vermifuge.
- The oil from the seed is used externally to treat parasitic skin diseases, burns, scalds and wounds.
- Other Uses: The seed contains up to58% quick-drying oil used to make lacquers, varnishes, paints, linoleum, resins, artificial leather, floor coverings, greases, and brake linings.
- Tung oil is also used to coat food, beverage, and medicine containers and to insulate wires and metal parts in electronic equipment.
- Prospect in India:
- Tung Plantation is done in north-eastern region, specially in Mizoram in India due to its favorable climatic conditions.
- India’s current annual requirement for tung oil is around 400-500 MT but domestic production is negligible.
- Its production is also being incentivize in the state under National Mission on Edible Oils- Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), 2024.
