Malaysia want to be Asia's Gaharu trading center
By Puvaneswary Devindran (Borneo Post)
KUCHING, SARAWAK: Malaysia is aiming to become the centre for ‘gaharu’ trading in Asia with Sarawak to contribute substantially.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) deputy director-general Dato Dr Abdul Rashid Abdul Malik said Sarawak had the potential to become the nation’s biggest contributor of gaharu essential oil and resins because of the state’s vastness.
“We are working closely with the Malaysian Gaharu Association to make Malaysia the centre for gaharu trade in Asia,” he said when opening a seminar on the establishment and management of ‘Aquilaria Plantation for Gaharu Production’ at a hotel here yesterday.
He said at the moment, trading activities take place in Singapore which gets gaharu from Malaysia, so Malaysia has to play a major role to convert itself into a gaharu trading centre other than being a producer.
He said Malaysia has about 1,000 hectares of gaharu plantation with 30 hectares reaching maturity after seven years.
As such, he expects Malaysia to be able to become a trading centre in seven years’ time if more people begin planting gaharu now.
He said the people, especially villagers who have land, should venture into planting the ‘aquilaria’ tree (commonly known as agarwood or ‘kayu karas’) which produces the gaharu resins as it brings good returns.
“The potential to produce gaharu in Sarawak is good because you have the land.
“This is also a good way for villagers to improve their livelihood as gaharu is in demand and fetches a good price,” he said.
He said the world demands 4.5 million kilogrammes of gaharu per year and that is only the official figure.
Unofficially, the world demands around six million kilogrammes per year, he said.
However, the producing countries could only meet 35 per cent of the demand and Malaysia comes in third place with only six per cent, he said.
India is the main producer, contributing only 12 per cent with Indonesia in second place, contributing seven per cent.
Thailand, Laos and Cambodia come after Malaysia.
Rashid elaborated that 80 countries use gaharu with the Middle East the biggest importer, getting 25 per cent of gaharu resins and its essential oil - known as the ‘Oud’ oil - in a year.
According to him, there are 25 species of agarwood worldwide, out of which only 12 were able to produce gaharu.
Malaysia only has five species that produce gaharu with the most popular being ‘aquilaria malaccensis’.
He said gaharu, depending on its grade, can fetch from RM4,000 to RM20,000 per kilogramme.
Based on studies, he said, one tree can produce about 1.5 kilogrammes of gaharu on average but then again, this all depends on the size and age of the tree and the inoculation given.
“We normally nurture the tree for four years then inoculate it and after three years, you can chop it for gaharu.
“If we do not inoculate this agarwood tree, it would not necessarily produce gaharu,” he explained.
He said an acre of land could accommodate 800 trees and on average it could take RM15,000 to RM20,000 to nurture an acre of plantation, adding that most of cost goes to getting the seedlings which could cost from RM8 to RM10 each.
He said research and development on gaharu showed that it has medicinal properties and although it has yet to be identified specifically, this adds to its demand.
He hoped the people would seize the opportunity before big commercial entities monopolise the market.
The one-day seminar held by FRIM saw six papers being deliberated including ‘Silviculture and Management of Aquilaria Malaccensis for agarwood production’, ‘Production of high quality aquilaria planting materials’ and status of gaharu producing ‘Species in Sarawak: An overview’.
FRIM head of plantation programme Dr Ahmad Zuhaidi Yahya and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Gumbang were also at the function.
HARGA GAHARU
INVEST IN AGARWOOD GAHARU AS GOLD INVEST
GAHARU VIETNAM 2
SINDIKET CURI GAHARU TUMPAS
SINDIKET CURI GAHARU TUMPAS 31 DIS 2011
GAHARU DIRAMPAS UPP
Aquilaria Crassna Pierre
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Family: Thymelyaceae
Synonyms: none
Distribution and habitat
Uses
Botanical description
Open fruit with two seeds.
Fruit and seed description
Harvest
Family: Thymelyaceae
Synonyms: none
Vernacular/common names: agar wood, eagle wood (Eng), bois d’eaigle, bois daloes (France), tram huong, Do bau (Vietnam), kritsanaa (Thailand, Laos). Related species of interest: Aquilaria is represented by a number of species in SE Asia - Pacific. The taxonomic status of some of them is uncertain. Some important species are A beccariana van Tiegham, A. banaensis Pham Hoang Ho, A. subintegra Ding Hou and A. malaccaensis Lam.
Distribution and habitat
Naturally distribution signifi cantly reduced by selective cutting. Mainly occurring south of 19º N in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. In Vietnam widely distributed, from central Vietnam southwards to Phu Quoc island (Kien Giang province). It is light demanding, occurring scattered in natural forest on rocky, shallow ferralitic soil, often along streams. Altitude range mainly 300-900 m.a.s.l. Annual rainfall around 1200 mm.
Uses
The main product is agar wood or eagle wood, which is a deposit of dark brown aromatic resin in the wood. Agar wood is produced in some old trees (at least 15-20 years old), presumable by some stress factors such as mechanical injuries, bacterial or fungal attack. Agar wood is used e.g. in temples as perfume wood. Aquilaria wood can be destilled and then yield an essential oil, which is used in the perfume industry. Both agar wood and Aquilaria oil is very much sought after and the species is disappearing from many of its original growth sites. However, the species is also cultivated, frequently planted around houses and home gardens, and large scale industrial plantations have been initiated in Vietnam.
Large evergreen tree, 15-20 (-30) m, and diameter up to 40-60 (occasionally 100) cm. Bark greyish-brown, slightly fi ssured, easy to peel off, smooth. Inner bark wet with much water. Branches nearly horizontal, not straight. Crown open. Leaves alternate, coreaceous, elliptical, petiole 4-5 mm, blade 8-13 cm long 3.5-5.5 cm wide, upper surface glossy and green, lower surface light coloured. Infl orescence umbellate, axillary or terminal. Flowers small, pale blue-yellow, fragrant, fi ne-haired, pedicel up to 1 cm long, fl oral tube campanulate, 4 mm long.
Open fruit with two seeds.
Fruit and seed descriptionFruit: fl attened, dehiscent, obovoid capsules, 3-3.5 cm long, 2.5-3 cm wide with 2 valves, each with 1 seed. Capsule hard or leathery when dry, with short greyish-yellow hairs and persistent calyx. When capsules open on the tree, the seeds hang from a 5-6 cm long prolonged funicle. Seed: glossy black, ovoid, about 5-6 mm diameter, 4 cm long including a 3-3.5 cm long, twisted, tail like pubescent appendage. There are about 4500-5000 seeds per kg. Nearly mature still closed fruits
Flowering and fruiting habit
In southern Vietnam the tree flowers in February and fruits in May-June. In Central Vietnam (Quang Binh) it flowers in March and fruits in July Acquilaria crassna. From: Vietnam Forest Trees
HarvestFruits are harvested from the trees when they turn from green to yellow but before the capsules open. Harvest time is crucial because the seeds have very short viability after acquiring maturity.
Processing and handling
Capsules are dried under shade or moderate sun until they open. The seeds are fragile and remain attached to the capsule by the funiculus, and are therefore usually detached by hand. It is recommended to remove the arils before storage as it tends to absorb moisture and cause rotor fungal attack.
Storage and viability
The seeds are oil rich, recalcitrant with very short viability. In a storage experiment seeds the best storage condition was 25% moisture content and 8°C in folded plastic bags. After 1 months storage at these conditions viability declined from 41% to 22 %; the viability was ‘0’ after 2.5 months of storage. The experiment also showed that storage time is significantly prolonged when the seed is stored cold, i.e. at 8°C.
Dormancy and pretreatment
Dormancy and pretreatment
There is no dormancy and pretreatment is not necessary.
Sowing and germination
Germination is epigeal. Because of the recalcitrant nature, sowing should be as soon as possible after collection. Seeds are sown shallow in sand or nursery soil with only the seed part covered, the tail remaining above the soil. Germination starts after 10 days and may be spread over one month.
Phytosanitary problems
Seeds without the arilus removed tend to collect moisture and decompose rapidly.
Vegetative propagation
Root cuttings as well as air layering appear easy provided application of rooting hormones and appropriate microclimate. Also propagated by tissue culture.
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How to inoculate Gaharu for its valuable resin?
How to inoculate Gaharu for its valuable resin?
Inoculation is a method was developed to induce the production of gaharu in young plantation trees. The trees are wounded or inoculated in a specific manner and the gaharu production as the natural defence response is supported by applying specific treatments. This method can ensure the sustainable production of gaharu in plantation trees.
The artificial inoculation process involves creating holes on a karas tree, filling them with fungal pathogen, and sealing them off with wax
Produced only by “sick” trees infected by fungi, this highly sought after fragrant resin has a cohort of uses, from aromatherapy to spa baths, decorative furniture, perfume, chopsticks, weapon holders, massage oil, joss sticks and items of medicinal value.
After four to six years, upon maturing, the trees will be injected with fungal pathogens to trigger gaharu production, and this can be harvested after five months to a year.
Inoculation is a method was developed to induce the production of gaharu in young plantation trees. The trees are wounded or inoculated in a specific manner and the gaharu production as the natural defence response is supported by applying specific treatments. This method can ensure the sustainable production of gaharu in plantation trees.
The artificial inoculation process involves creating holes on a karas tree, filling them with fungal pathogen, and sealing them off with wax
Produced only by “sick” trees infected by fungi, this highly sought after fragrant resin has a cohort of uses, from aromatherapy to spa baths, decorative furniture, perfume, chopsticks, weapon holders, massage oil, joss sticks and items of medicinal value.
After four to six years, upon maturing, the trees will be injected with fungal pathogens to trigger gaharu production, and this can be harvested after five months to a year.
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