Farmers of Norbugang Gewog in Pema Gatshel have been growing agarwood for many years as the wood fetches a good price. But the introduction of the artificial inoculation technique has attracted even more to venture into agarwood cultivation. Artificial inoculation is found to effective and reliable method to stimulate agar or resin production in trees. Agarwood is used for incense, perfume, and traditional medicine among others.
Fifty-year-old Rinchen Zangpo from Dechhenling Gewog started inoculating the agarwood trees in 2020.
The process is simple. The farmers drill the trees and inject organic inoculant into the holes in the trees to stimulate resin production. The resin is what makes agarwood.
“We thought if the agarwood trees are inoculated, it may form the resin inside. So, we have started inducing the trees. And we have also made a deal with the owners, agreeing to pay Nu 10,000 per kilogram of resin to them,” said Rinchen.
Under natural conditions, the agarwood tree takes decades to mature and form a dark-resinous wood used in incense and perfumes. But Rinchen said that the artificial inoculation technique enhances resin production, especially in young trees within a short period.
“For the young trees, they have an opportunity to give quick growth. So, it is always better to keep three to five years after inducing the artificial inoculation. We are also monitoring, whether resin has formed or not by cutting some branches. If a black portion is formed in the branches, then it means that the artificial inoculation is working,” added Rinchen.
Rinchen has planted agarwood saplings in 50 decimals of land. He said more people are taking interest in agarwood cultivation due to the introduction of artificial inoculation.
“It has been one and half years inducing the trees with the artificial inoculation. So, the owners are satisfied today, thinking soon they can earn some money as the trees are forming the resin.”
“In the past, we didn’t do anything. So, the trees grew big but they remained as white and never produced resin. Now, they have initiated artificial inoculation. And with that, we are hoping to earn some money,” said Nindha Lhamo, another farmer of Norbugang Gewog.
A four-member group from Norbugang Gewog helps farmers with the technique for free and buys the resin from the farmers for Nu 10,000 per kilogram.
The group has induced more than 3,000 trees in Nganglam in Pema Gatshel, Yangbari in Monggar, and Panbang in Zhemgang.
Late Dasho Nishiko introduced agarwood cultivation in the country in the 1970s in Panbang, Zhemgang.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam Pem
