An overview on Trade and Distribution of Agar wood in North-East India

An overview on Trade and Distribution of Agar wood in North-East India

Aquilaria malaccensis, also known as Agallochum (trade name), belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family. It occurs in North-eastern India through Myanmar to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangkok, Borneo and the Philippines.

The people of North-East India in general and Assam in particular had the knowledge of agarwood , locally known as “Agaru” or “Sanchi” since ancient times.

Pleasant aroma and costly medicinal values have been the cause of attraction of people since time immemorial.

Religious books or ‘puthis’ written on the specially treated bark glorified its position in the society and people started its plantation in the rear yards of their homes and within the campus of Thans and Satras. In far East Asian countries, charring of agar-candle is an indispensable part of worshiping a deity. Kings, Nawabs and the people in the higher echelon in the society bought and used the fungal infected chips and oil of agar as perfumery items and trading thereof has developed into a lucrative business from those days.

After the independence, people of various parts of Assam broached up this business and Hojai a tiny and cosy town of Nagaon district grew into a nerve center of this trade and commerce including Naharani and Namti in Upper Assam.

Down về xem thêm