Agarwood sector in Tripura: World Bank team visits Agar plantations
A delegation of the World Bank arrived at Tripura and visited the Agar plantations at Kadamtala area under North district on Friday. The World Bank officials held interactions with the Agar growers on multiple issues. The officials are visiting and inspecting the Agar plantations in Tripura as part of the ‘Element Project’. The State government will take a loan from the World Bank through the ‘element Project’.
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The visiting Officials interacted as well as inspected several Agar plantations in Kadamtala area today. They also went to the largest Agar Industry of Tripura which is located at North Phulbari in the same district.
During the interactions, Agar growers pointed multiple issues that are impeding the growth of the Agar sector in Tripura. The Bank Officials also collected detailed information from the Agar growers and traders relating to growing Agar trees and process of trading of Agar wood and scented oil etc.
The Officials also took note of quantity of agar oil, Agar wood and chips are being exported to other states.
Even language was a big obstacle in communication, the Agar growers and traders managed to provide as much information as possible. The traders also mentioned the difficulties that they are facing.
According to the Agarwood traders, lack of any testing lab is a major issue that is affecting the trading. Besides, marketing is another major concern which needs to be addressed at the earliest. There is dearth of other essentials required for exporting Agar products, the traders informed the Bank Officials.
Additional PCCF Praveen Aggarwal assured the local traders saying that their problems would be gradually sorted.
Notably, Tripura Government has accorded special emphasis for the development of Agarwood sector. The state Government is aggressively promoting Agar business and initiated several steps including releasing ‘Agar Wood Policy 2021' in September last year and providing licenses to Agar tree growers.
Sources said, over 50 lakh Agar trees are available in Tripura at present and the Tripura government is eyeing building a Rs. 2000-crore business in the Agar sector in the next few years. The ‘Tripura Agar Wood Policy 2021', proposes to double the area under Agarwood plantation by 2025.
As the Agarwood sector in Tripura has a genuine potentiality and prospect, foreign investors expressed their willingness and an expert team from Laos also visited the Kadamtala area in May, 2022. Moreover, plans are afoot to set up a Agar Trade Centre in North Tripura.
With visit of the World Bank officials, the Agar sector of Tripura is expecting another boost.