Source: ET
Subject: Economy
Context: Union Minister laid the foundation stone of the ₹80 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme in Tripura to strengthen the sector from farm to global markets.
About Agarwood:
What it is?
- Agarwood (also called oud, gaharu, aloeswood) is a highly fragrant, resinous heartwood formed in Aquilaria trees when they are wounded and infected by fungi, triggering a defensive resin response.
Origin:
- Mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts such as the Susruta Samhita and in early Islamic literature, agarwood has been traded for thousands of years across Asia and the Middle East.
Habitat:
- Found mainly in South and Southeast Asia, including India (Tripura, Assam and the Northeast), Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
- Aquilaria species thrive in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
Key features:
- Resin formation is rare in nature (only ~10% of wild trees), making agarwood extremely valuable.
- Natural agarwood can take 20–50 years to develop, prompting artificial induction (biological, chemical and physical methods).
- Listed under CITES Appendix II due to overexploitation and illegal trade risks.
Applications:
- Perfumery: High-end fragrances and essential oils, especially in the Middle East.
- Incense & rituals: Widely used in religious and cultural ceremonies.
- Medicine: Traditional Ayurvedic, Chinese and Unani systems (bioactive compounds like chromones and terpenoids).
- Trade & exports: One of the most expensive forest products, with premium agarwood oil fetching very high prices globally.
