World Bank Delegation Reviews Agarwood Sector in North Tripura

Agartala, June 07, 2025: A three-member delegation from the World Bank visited the Kadamtala area of North Tripura on Friday to assess the agarwood sector and explore its development potential. The visit was part of a broader project focusing on non-timber forest products.

Led by World Bank consultant Dan Altrell, the team met with senior officials of the state forest department to understand ongoing initiatives within the agarwood industry. The delegation also included consultants Erick Z. Soruco and Sushanta Paul.

During their field visit, the team toured the agarwood market at Kadamtala and interacted with local growers and factory workers to gather insights into current practices and future needs.

“The World Bank team is in the state in connection with a project involving non-timber forest products. Since most of Tripura’s agarwood-based factories are located in Kadamtala, the team came to assess the ground realities and gather first-hand feedback,” said Suman Malla, District Forest Officer (DFO) of North Tripura.

Malla noted that North Tripura holds the largest concentration of agarwood trees in the state, with an estimated one crore trees, and that Kadamtala serves as a hub for agar-based enterprises within Dharmanagar subdivision. Currently, around 15 agarwood processing units are operational in the area.

Agar oil and chips from Tripura are primarily exported to West Asian countries, where demand remains strong. “The businesses are doing well, and one agar market has already become functional. There’s significant potential, though we still have progress to make in terms of value addition,” the DFO added.

The Tripura government, recognising the sector’s promise, introduced an exclusive Agar Policy in 2021 aimed at leveraging the state’s natural resources to boost the rural economy and increase exports.