Abstract

An examination of the structure and working of the sawmilling industry in Kerala, with particular reference to its linkages with wood production and end uses, and including a study of the technological aspects of wood processing (primary log breakdown, resawing, trimming (uncommon) and saw doctoring) and the responses of the industry to the (severe) decline in wood availability. The data were collected in 1985-86 from 165 sawmilling units throughout the state, but supplemented by secondary data frombodies such as the Directorate of the Bureau of Economics and Statistics, and the State Planning Board. The sawmilling units were mostly private, and their main sources were forests (12), estates (27), house compounds (32) and imports (29). Three 'sawingsystems' were operated: an open conversion system in which the sawmill owner purchased and converted the logs according to market demand (as judged by him); a contract system in which the terms and conditions were drawn up between the timber merchants and sawmill owners; and the custom or cooli system (the most common) in which logs bought by the merchants were converted to sizes on the prevailing sawing charges without any contract. A summary economic analysis is given for small and medium sized mills