A three-member World Bank delegation visited Kadamtala in North Tripura on June 6 to evaluate the state’s booming agarwood industry and explore avenues for international support under a broader project focused on non-timber forest products. Led by consultant Dan Altrell, along with Erick Z Soruco and Sushanta Paul, the team toured agarwood processing units and engaged directly with local growers and traders at the Kadamtala agar market. The officials also held detailed discussions with senior forest department authorities to understand the region’s agarwood activities and challenges.
District Forest Officer (DFO) of North Tripura, Suman Malla, stated that the World Bank’s interest aligns with the state’s 2021 Agar Policy, which seeks to make agarwood a key driver of economic transformation in Tripura. “The team visited Kadamtala as it is the hub of agarwood factories. Their feedback from stakeholders will be crucial for any future development initiatives,” Malla said.
Tripura is home to over one crore agar trees, with about 15 factories actively producing agar oil and chips, mostly exported to West Asian countries where demand remains strong.
