A delegation of eight officers of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (DEFCC), Government of Nagaland led by Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Principal Secretary, visited the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat, Assam on 6th March, 2026 to explore avenues for scientific collaboration with the Institute in the areas of sustainable forest management, research support, and improved cultivation techniques of economically important tree species like agarwood, teak, etc. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Dr. Nitin Kulkarni, Director, RFRI and his team of six (6 Nos.) scientists heading various Divisions (HoDs) had day-long discussions and brainstorming deliberations followed by visits to various research facilities including Bambusetum and Museum. Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat is the premier institution under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with specific mandate of forestry research and extension activities in North-eastern India.
The Director, RFRI and his team explained the mandate and research activities being undertaken by the Institute with a detailed presentation wherein, various activities planned for forestry research and extension in the state of Nagaland were also discussed. Continuing the interaction, Y. Kikheto Sema, Principal Secretary highlighted the need and potential of agroforestry in the state of Nagaland. Referring to prevailing unemployment and livelihood issues in the State, he noted that traditional practice of shifting cultivation (jhum) is increasingly posing serious challenges and appropriate agroforestry interventions with species like Agarwood can be an ecologically sustainable and economically viable option. Giving an account of rich agarwood resources in the State, he noted that Agarwood is a highly valuable tree species in which almost every part of the plant can be put to commercial use.
Elaborating about the initiatives of the Government of Nagaland for conservation and promotion of Agarwood in the State, Kikheto said that an effort is being made to tap the economic potential unravelling in the region through scientific cultivation and trade, in the form of a comprehensive policy for the conservation and promotion of Agarwood in Nagaland. He stressed that with other States viz. Assam and Tripura, making rapid strides, it was felt that the State should not fall behind for want of a comprehensive policy and necessary technical interventions for promotion of cultivation, harvest, processing and trade.
Noting that Nagaland is experiencing one of the most peaceful phases after attaining statehood, Kikheto emphasized that the aspirations of the people of the state comprising 70% farmers, should be met appropriately with ample economic and employment activities. However, as the traditional practice of Jhum cultivation is gradually becoming economically unviable and ecologically unsustainable resulting in unprecedented deforestation and forest degradation (around 800 sq. km. of forests lost during 2013 to 2023, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)). He said in contrast, Agarwood cultivation had potential of offering nearly several thousand times higher economic returns over a period of 10 years as compared with the traditional Juhm cultivation presenting sustainable livelihood opportunities particularly for rural youth at a time when government employment opportunities are limited. Promotion of Agarwood cultivation, he noted, could significantly enhance farmers’ incomes, strengthen the rural economy, and generate employment opportunities to the ever increasing unemployed youth in the state.
During the discussions, Kikheto was shocked to know that the export quota of Agarwood chip/powder and Oil from Nagaland is fixed at 3,400 kg and 180 kg per year respectively, constituting just about 2.25% and 2.55% of the national quota, while State has substantial agarwood resources with good natural infection. The delegation was made to understand that the allocation was made on the basis of the Non-Detrimental Finding (NDF) study of Agarwood resources conducted by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). In this context, Kikheto urged that the survey should have been conducted by informing the state government and visiting the length and breadth of the state rather than arriving at a conclusion on the basis of a sample study. Sema also stated that the state government shall take up the issue with the BSI and the Government of India (GoI) for corrective measures. Sema observed that Nagaland is likely to have at least 25 lakh Agarwood trees, indicating significant expansion of cultivation in the recent past. While underscoring that the GoI had allocated almost 80% of the Agarwood export quota to Assam, Sema noted that Assam, Tripura and Nagaland possess the highest Agar plantations in the country. Due to lack of awareness and lack of Agarwood policy to support cultivation, processing and trade, the farmers of Nagaland are not getting the right price, and are at the mercy of buyers from Assam leading to distress sale at times. Referring to plantation diversification efforts in the State, Sema noted that coffee plantations are being promoted on a large scale in Nagaland. He urged RFRI to explore integrated plantation models involving Agarwood and Coffee, along with other crops suitable for integration with Agarwood plantations.
Referring to an announcement made in the Union Budget 2026, wherein the Government of India had proposed to support the cultivation and promotion of Agarwood and its trade in the North Eastern region with the objective of diversifying farm outputs, increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing farmers’ incomes and creating new employment opportunities, Sema observed that the policy support from the Government of India creates a timely opportunity for states like Nagaland to develop a structured and scientifically guided Agarwood sector. He noted that the limited scientific information available regarding the Agarwood species present in Nagaland and their suitability to the terrain and climatic conditions of the State is a kind of bottleneck that can be addressed through appropriate interventions suggested by scientific organizations like RFRI, Jorhat.
Highlighting the importance of technical inputs like quality planting material, appropriate spacing, inoculation techniques, suitable intercropping, processing and trade of Agarwood, Sema stated that agarwood from Nagaland with natural infection is in high demand across West Asia and Southeast Asia. He also observed that though the tree growth was impressive across the state, fungal infection and agarwood development in some parts was very poor resulting in uncertainty amongst the farming community in Nagaland. In this regard, Kikheto expressed great pleasure to know that RFRI has developed ‘Sashi’, an indigenous inoculum suitable for agarwood strains resulting in 100% infection within a period of two years. He further suggested the RFRI to assist the Naga farmers in artificial inoculation of Agar trees using the technology.
Referring to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulation on international trade of Agarwood, Kikheto mentioned that the Agarwood sourced from Nagaland is of superior quality, fetching premium priced and having huge demand in middle east countries, especially in Dubai. However, due to the absence of a comprehensive policy framework, a considerable quantity of Agarwood is reportedly transported outside the State through informal channels.
Further, upon being told that Ministry of Development for Northeastern Region (MDoNER) through Northeastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC) is facilitating establishment of Agarwood processing and trade hubs at Kadamtala, Tripura and Golaghat, Assam, Kikheto said that while such a centre at Golaghat would benefit Agarwood cultivators in Nagaland due to its proximity. Sema also urged RFRI to explore the need of such a hub/centre in Nagaland for facilitating local agarwood growers and submit suitable recommendation to the Govt. of India.
Referring to an interaction with Kirthi Vardhan Sing, MoS, MoEFCC, Govt. of India, during his visit to the State last month had recommended for adoption of genetically superior teak clones (short duration) developed by the IFGTB, Coimbatore in Nagaland, Sema said that foothill areas of the State are suitable for cultivation of teak however, the farmers have to wait for about 35 to 40 years for harvesting. He requested RFRI to explore improved teak clones capable of reducing the rotation period to about 12 to 15 years. RFRI scientists responded positively and indicated that they would source better performing clones from their sister institutions and facilitate their introduction in Nagaland. Sema also sought clarification regarding the cultivation and economic viability of Jatropha. RFRI scientists informed that although Jatropha was once promoted as a bio-diesel crop during the period 1998–2004, it was later found to be economically unviable for the region and therefore is no longer recommended for cultivation. Further, Sema urged RFRI to examine the potential for bamboo cultivation in the foothill areas of Nagaland adjoining Assam, with the objective of supplying bamboo resources to Assam Bioethanol Private Limited, Numaligarh, which produces bio-ethanol from bamboo biomass. RFRI scientists agreed to facilitate a meeting with the company to explore possible collaboration in this regard. He stated that before any project is taken up, we need more research, awareness, study of geographical parameters are required.
Impressed with the tissue culture laboratory and bamboo museum, Kikheto suggested the Institute to concentrate their research and extension activities equally in all northeastern states with special attention to Nagaland rather than concentrating only in Assam. Upon meaningful discussions it was decided that the Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat would collaborate with the Government of Nagaland in several priority areas including resource mapping of Agarwood in Nagaland, expansion of area under Agarwood cultivation, improvement of Agarwood species suitable to Nagaland’s agro-climatic conditions, promotion of artificial inoculation techniques for Agarwood formation, supply of quality planting material to farmers, and capacity building of forest officials and growers. It was further agreed that an MoU would be signed between the Government of Nagaland and RFRI to collaborate on the priority areas. Kikheto Sema, also proposed that the forest officials and farmers would be trained with the assistance of RFRI so that they can facilitate scientific Agarwood cultivation across the State.
During his visit to the RFRI, Jorhat, Y. Kikheta Sema, IAS Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland was accompanied by Sidramappa Chalkapure, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Development & Planning), Nagaland; Suman WM Sivachar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Wokha; Beizo Soukhrie, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Dimapur; Desabathula Rajiv Shankar, IFS, Working Plan Officer, Nagaland; Elithung Odyuo, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Wokha; Imkongsunep Longchar, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Dimapur; and Kikhavi Chophy, Range Forest Officer, Chumoukedima.
(DIPR)
