Agar (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) based small-scale enterprises in Bangladesh: Management, production, marketing and role in socio-economic development

Abstract

Agarwood (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) is one of the most expensive woods in the world. Agar-based enterprises are increasing due to the high demand for agar products worldwide including Bangladesh. Information on the socio-economic condition, silvicultural operation, extraction, processing, marketing and potential barriers are crucial for the formulation of a proper management plan. Therefore, the study was conducted in the Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion to explore the aforesaid issues and provide subsequent recommendations for this sector. A total of 120 respondents (an equal number of agar nursery owners, growers, buyers and enterprise owners) were selected randomly based on the preliminary surveys. The growers and enterprise owners were mostly literate (77%) and had nurseries for raising seedlings. About 55% of the respondents were found to have private plantations while the reaming growers possessed homestead agar plantations mixed with other plant species. The majority of the enterprises were small in size (65%) and only 10% possessed large enterprises (more than 8 pans). The practice of nursery management, silvicultural operation, and agar induction and extraction process was found conventional based on their indigenous knowledge. The study revealed that the nursery owners, tree sellers, enterprise owners and enterprise workers earned substantial income per month that ranged from US$<179 to >535, US$<119 to >476, US$119 to >595 and US$71 to 143 respectively indicating the potential role of agar-based enterprises in the socio-economic development of the study area. Such profitable agar-based enterprises are expected to flourish more, if financial and modern technical support, supply of high-quality seedlings together with raw materials and contemporary marketing facilities are adequately provided.