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Agarwood

Jan. 25, 2026

Recently, the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region laid the foundation stone for the ₹80 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme.

About Agarwood:

  • Aquilaria malaccensis, commonly known as agarwood, is a species of tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family.
  • It is also known as Oud, Gaharu or Agar is prized as the world’s most valuable incense. 
  • The resin is produced as a defence mechanism due to the intense stress suffered by the trees when they are infected by a type of mold belonging to the Phaeoacremonium species (Phialophora parasitica).
  • The Aquilaria tree is a fast-growing, subtropical forest tree.
  • Distribution: It is mainly found in South Asia’s Himalayan foothills, throughout Southeast Asia, and into the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
    • In India, it grows in the wild in the Northeast, especially in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
  • Soil: Aquilaria can grow on a wide range of soils, including poor sandy soil.
  • Applications of Agarwood: The resinous wood is used as incense, for medicinal purposes, and pure resin in distilled form is used as an essential oil as well as a perfume component. 

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