Tripura’s prized agarwood industry took centre stage on Tuesday as Chandni Chandran, District Magistrate and Collector of North Tripura, participated in a high-level virtual conference with Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The meeting underscored the growing importance of agarwood cultivation and trade in driving regional economic development.
The noon session brought together farmers, entrepreneurs, and government officials to review progress on a comprehensive roadmap for the sector. Discussions centred on key areas such as sustainable cultivation practices, adoption of improved processing techniques, and strengthening of market linkages. These measures are seen as critical for positioning agarwood as a major contributor to the Northeast’s economy.
Participants highlighted the need for close coordination between government agencies, local communities, and industry stakeholders. Such collaboration, they noted, is essential to fully harness the potential of agarwood, a high-value product known for its fragrance and medicinal properties. With increasing global demand, the sector holds promise for generating livelihoods and boosting rural incomes across the region.
The review meeting builds on earlier initiatives aimed at strengthening the industry. On January 24, Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held detailed consultations with traders and growers, outlining strategies for enhancing production, marketing, and long-term growth. During the same period, he also laid the foundation stone for a Common Agar Processing Unit at Baragol, a major infrastructure project valued at Rs 80 crore.
The Baragol unit is expected to play a transformative role by improving processing capabilities and opening new avenues for local entrepreneurs. Its announcement had already generated optimism among stakeholders, who see agarwood as a potential driver of economic empowerment in Tripura.
Tuesday’s conference reaffirmed this vision, signalling the Centre’s continued commitment to building a robust and sustainable agarwood ecosystem in the Northeast, with Tripura poised to play a leading role in this emerging sector.
