The Centre has set Tripura’s annual agarwood export quota at 22,500 kg of chips, powder and sawdust and 1,047 kg of agarwood oil for 2024–25 to 2026–27, promoting sustainable trade, scientific cultivation, streamlined certification, rural livelihoods and greater export opportunities for agarwood farmers and entrepreneurs.
The Centre has notified an annual export quota for agarwood products from Tripura, setting the limit at 22,500 kg of agarwood chips, powder and sawdust and 1,047 kg of agarwood oil for each financial year from 2024–25 to 2026–27.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the quota was determined following a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) study, which assessed the sustainability of agarwood trade and aimed to ensure that exports do not adversely affect the long-term availability of the resource.
The decision is expected to provide greater clarity to agarwood farmers, producers, processors and exporters in Tripura while supporting the state’s growing potential in the sector. Agarwood, valued for its fragrance and use in perfumes, incense, traditional products and essential oils, has emerged as an important high-value forest-based commodity.
The Ministry also said that representations submitted by the Tripura Government and stakeholders regarding the rationalisation of transit and certification procedures had been examined. The discussions involved the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), agarwood-producing states, exporters and industry representatives.
As part of efforts to improve the ease of doing business, the DGFT has introduced a digital module on the Trade Connect ePlatform for issuing Certificates of Origin. The digital system is intended to strengthen traceability, simplify documentation and reduce delays faced by exporters.
Scientific and technical assistance is also being extended to the agarwood sector. The Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, is providing technical support for scientific inoculation, a process that can help improve agarwood production through controlled and research-based methods.
Meanwhile, MoDoNER is supporting sustainable agarwood cultivation and value addition through the PM-DevINE programme. This includes the Agarwood Cluster Development Project being implemented by the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC).
The issue was also raised in Parliament by Lok Sabha MP Kriti Singh, who highlighted the potential of the agarwood sector to create rural employment, increase exports and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Tripura.
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Singh emphasised the importance of scientific inoculation, simplified certification procedures and easier transit regulations for farmers and entrepreneurs involved in agarwood cultivation and trade.
The Centre’s export quota, combined with scientific support, digital certification and cluster-based development, is expected to provide a more structured framework for Tripura’s agarwood industry. The measures aim to balance commercial opportunities with sustainable resource management while strengthening the participation of rural producers in the expanding agarwood value chain.
