Agarwood manufacturing: a multidisciplinary opportunity for economy of Bangladesh - a review

Authors

  • Milon Chowdhury Machine development
  • Md. Daulat Hussain
  • Sun-Ok Chung
  • Ehsanul Kabir
  • Afroja Rahman

Keywords:

Aquilaria, anatomy of Aquilaria, Agarwood induction, economy

Abstract

A variety of methods, ranging from natural to artificial, which have been practiced for producing agarwood and the economic opportunity related with this field in Bangladesh were reviewed. The anatomy of agar tree was also described. Agarwood is the fragrant resin-infused wood derived from the wounded trees of Aquilaria species. It is a valuable non-timber forest product used in fragrances and medicine. Artificial agarwood inducing methods serve as a way to supply agarwood and conserve the wild Aquilaria stock. The existing artificial methods are Nailing, Drilling, Aeration, Agar-wit, Partly-Trunk-Pruning, Burning-Chisel-Drilling, Fungi-Inoculation, etc. The quality of agar mostly depends on the plant species and the fungal species, as well as certain other unknown factors. Agar is a new commercial tree in Bangladesh, necessary steps should be taken immediately to make it popular among farmers and small entrepreneurs. Substantial amount of foreign currency would be saved through manufacture and export of agarwood.

Author Biography

Milon Chowdhury, Machine development

Post Graduate, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

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Published

2016-09-28

Issue

Section

VI-Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering