All Sanchi (Agar) Grower’s Association of Assam (ASGAA) came in to existence on 19th February 2010 as a Non Profit Organization registered as a society to safeguard our indigenous farmers and traders in their respective field like Nursery, Plantation, marketing of different products and harvesting in a sustainable manner and to save the unique eco-biodiversity of Assam State and other Nort Eastern States of India.

The next revolution in Assam could happen with Agarwood. This industry today has a turnover of over Rs. 1,00,000 crores. Naturally infected Assamese Agarwood products quality is considered the best in the world. With over one crore trees in private land Assam has the potential to have nearly 40 crore trees. However, there is not support to the growers. On the contrary growers are exploited by citing the provisions of CITES agreement protecting agarwood in forest areas. Transport permits are nearly impossible to obtain from Forest Department.

Growers are therefore forced to sell their trees at paltry prices. The price per tree can be increased over ten times if the government gives support to the growers. The government is also losing because most of the agarwood trade is resulting to growth of black money. Growers have to be trained so that they can also earn extra money by processing the trees.

Looking at the potential of agarwood it would only be appropriate for the Government to form Agarwood Board on the lines of Tea Board.
Agarwood is also called Sanchi in the Assamese language. We have formed All Sanchi Grower’s Association of Assam (ASGAA) to fight for the empowerment of the growers in Assam. A tree census would also help in future planning. Skill development in nursery management and plantation, processing of agarwood in chips and oil, packaging and marketing through a promotion campaign can greatly help. Also required is an export market identification which may be done by the Agarwood Board or ASGAA. We aim at setting up special nurseries for agarwood in every block and Workshop and training cum demonstration unit in every district.

Several states like Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also interested in planting Agarwood trees. At ASGAA we shall facilitate this.