Exploring Agarwood�s export potential

Bangladesh can earn more than Tk 100 crore annually by developing its agarwood sector and exporting agar products abroad, according to officials of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), reports UNB.
“Now, Bangladesh earns about Tk 40-50 crore a year by exporting agar through informal sector, but it can raise agar export to over Tk 100 crore by developing the sector,” BFRI divisional officer Md Rafiqul Islam told the agency .
BFRI organised the workshop on ‘Agarwood cultivation and Agar Industry Development’ at Cirdap auditorium in the capital yesterday.
Making his power-point presentation, former forestry professor of Khulna University Mohammad Abdur Rahman said agarwood is a resinous deposit in the heartwood of the agar trees.
Agar trees were previously collected from natural forests by agar traders for ages, but this has resulted in depletion of agar tree population in Bangladesh and the species is now a vulnerable one, he added.
About the state of agar plantation, Abdur Rahman said agarwood cultivation currently continues in Maulavibazar, Hobiganj, Rangamati, Bandarbans, Cox’s Bazar and other districts of the country.
He stressed the need for adopting high yielding agarwood producing technologies aiming to develop the agarwood sector.
Agarwood is a highly priced non-timber forest product, which can be used in fragrance, incense, medicines aromatherapy and religious ceremonies.
Chief conservator of forest Mohammad Yunus Ali said in the past plenty of agar plants were found in the Sylhet region, but the plants’ numbers have rapidly declined due to its over exploitation.
He added it is high time to take initiatives for the development of agarwood sector in Bangladesh and enhance its marketing linkage abroad to explore the potential of this sector.
“We have to ensure the standard of agar that we produce. Otherwise, we will not get fair price of agar products abroad,” Yunus Ali stated.
Environment and Forests secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed said Bangladesh has suitable weather to produce agar and this is why it can promote agar cultivation by developing agar sector. He also said this is high time to formulate a policy in order to develop agar industry in the country and explore agar market abroad.
Additional secretary of Environment and Forests Ministry Amit Kumar Baul and BFRI director  Shahin Akter, among others, spoke at the workshop.

Exploring Agarwood�s export potential

Bangladesh can earn more than Tk 100 crore annually by developing its agarwood sector and exporting agar products abroad, according to officials of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), reports UNB. Now, Bangladesh earns about Tk 40-50 crore a year by exporting agar through informal sector, but it can raise agar export to over Tk 100 crore by developing the sector, BFRI divisional officer Md Rafiqul Islam told the agency . BFRI organised the workshop on Agarwood cultivation and Agar Industry Development at Cirdap auditorium in the capital yesterday. Making his power-point presentation, former forestry professor of Khulna University Mohammad Abdur Rahman said agarwood is a resinous deposit in the heartwood of the agar trees. Agar trees were previously collected from natural forests by agar traders for ages, but this has resulted in depletion of agar tree population in Bangladesh and the species is now a vulnerable one, he added. About the state of agar plantation, Abdur Rahman said agarwood cultivation currently continues in Maulavibazar, Hobiganj, Rangamati, Bandarbans, Coxs Bazar and other districts of the country. He stressed the need for adopting high yielding agarwood producing technologies aiming to develop the agarwood sector. Agarwood is a highly priced non-timber forest product, which can be used in fragrance, incense, medicines aromatherapy and religious ceremonies. Chief conservator of forest Mohammad Yunus Ali said in the past plenty of agar plants were found in the Sylhet region, but the plants numbers have rapidly declined due to its over exploitation. He added it is high time to take initiatives for the development of agarwood sector in Bangladesh and enhance its marketing linkage abroad to explore the potential of this sector. We have to ensure the standard of agar that we produce. Otherwise, we will not get fair price of agar products abroad, Yunus Ali stated. Environment and Forests secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed said Bangladesh has suitable weather to produce agar and this is why it can promote agar cultivation by developing agar sector. He also said this is high time to formulate a policy in order to develop agar industry in the country and explore agar market abroad. Additional secretary of Environment and Forests Ministry Amit Kumar Baul and BFRI director Shahin Akter, among others, spoke at the workshop.