VENTURE
HIGH DEMAND EXISTS FOR "GAHARU" BEAUTIFUL SCENT
MELAKA: The karas tree or its scientific name Aquilaria, which produces agarwood, is in high demand when its value almost exceeds the price of gold.
Agarwood is no longer a foreign aroma or product around the world and it is popularly used in the production of perfumes as well as for medicine and religious events.
Abdul Razak said a type of AA grade agarwood costs thousands of ringgit per stick.
Managing director of Biobenua Teknoloji Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Abdul Razak Ali said agarwood is one of the crops that can increase the economy in Malaysia.
"This sector is profitable, but it takes time for agarwood plants to produce agarwood of a quality comparable to that obtained from forests.
“Malaysia is also one of the largest exporters of agarwood essential oil production in the middle eastern countries in the manufacture of perfumes such as India and Arabia because the Malaysian climate is suitable for cultivation of this tree.
The latest price of agarwood extract and agarwood core.
“The price for grade (AA) gaharu essence can reach RM 2,400 per kilogram while the price for grade (AA) gaharu core can reach RM 21,000,” he said.
Abdul Razak also the founder of 'Black Gold Biobooster' stated inoculation for agarwood trees is to stimulate the formation of agarwood to get a good grade.
“Black Gold Biobooster inoculation is used to encourage the growth of agarwood on the Karas tree in order to produce premium quality agarwood.
“Biobenua Teknoloji Sdn Bhd provide several services such as organizing agarwood industry courses and being a supplier of agarwood saplings,” he said.
Agarwood plantation operator, Syamil Iman Abd Razak
Agarwood plantation operator, Syamil Iman Abd Razak, 24, said agarwood entrepreneurs in our country can be counted on the fingers since few dare to take chances despite the fact that the outcomes might be profitable.
“Realizing that agarwood has a 'heavenly' level of value and potential, during the past several years, more and more businesspeople are growing gaharu trees in their farms.
"Planting agarwood trees is not suitable as a main occupation because it takes almost 10 years to get the results.
“It has also been discovered that agarwood trees possess a great number of useful qualities and benefits.
"Other products that can be made from Agarwood include soap, perfumes, bakhoor and tea powder and as entrepreneurs we need to be creative in diversifying the types of side products," he said.
Syamil promoted their agarwood products at an event in Melaka.
Syamil further cautioned consumers to be cautious since there is a dangerous agarwood oil essence, and to ensure that the oil essence sold is not poisonous, it does not have a strong smell.
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