Guwahati, 28 August (HS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh, has welcomed the Assam government’s initiative to transform the state’s traditional agarwood sector into an organised, transparent and globally oriented industry, stressing that the benefits of the sector must reach genuine growers.

BJP Assam Pradesh spokesperson Jayanta Kumar Goswami said the initiative under Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma could turn agarwood into an important pillar of Assam’s rural and indigenous economy.

Goswami said indigenous farmers and families have been cultivating agarwood for decades, but despite its high commercial value and growing international demand, growers often fail to receive a proportionate share of the economic benefits. He emphasised that there should be no monopoly of any particular group or intermediary over the agarwood sector.

“The farmer who plants an agarwood tree, nurtures it for years and invests his land, labour and money must be the first and foremost beneficiary of the economic value generated from agarwood,” he said.

He called for a transparent policy framework and clear criteria to ensure that genuine growers receive direct benefits in registration, fair valuation, transportation, processing and export.

Goswami said agarwood is not merely a tree but a valuable natural resource with deep links to Assam’s rural economy. With modern technology, scientific cultivation practices and better access to international markets, the sector could generate significant employment and self-employment opportunities.

He welcomed the government’s efforts to reduce procedural and regulatory difficulties related to plantation, felling, transportation and trade, while promoting Assam’s agarwood in international markets.

The BJP spokesperson also highlighted the potential for expanding value-added production of agarwood oil, attar, fragrances and other products within the state. This, he said, could help Assam emerge as a major global centre for agarwood processing and exports instead of remaining primarily a supplier of raw material.

Goswami expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and thanked Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Borah and Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika for engaging with growers, producers and other stakeholders.

He said the government’s new approach could open a new chapter in the economic empowerment of Assam’s indigenous communities and urged that genuine agarwood growers remain at the centre of ownership, value creation and economic benefits generated by the sector.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash