AgarwoodIs Reputed to be the Most Expensive Wood in the World
Sudah gaharu cendana pula, sudah tahu bertanya pula (It is the Indnesian proverb – rather difficult to be translated; agarwoodmix up with sandalwood, they have known but still asking anyway). Although this proverbis native Indonesian, but not so many Indonesian utilizeagarwoods maximally as people from other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, China, and Japan. For good quality agarwoodmay cost about tens of millions Rupaihper one kilogram. This was stated by Dr. Ir. GayuhRahayu, M.Si of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA), Bogor Agricultural University in her presentation as a resource person in the RRIdialogue, on Tuesday, 6 May 2014. Dr..Gayuh explained thatTheodour of agarwood is complex and pleasing, and is traditionally used as ingredients of incense, perfume or aromatherapy. In addition, because of the aromatic smell of some composition it is reported to be used in the production of traditional medicine. The oil is used in the production of traditional medicine as anti-asthma antitoxic, painkiller, and evenas a preservative.
If we travel to Mecca , in the shopping malls which sells fire woods, those woods are mostlyagarwood. Arabians consider that agarwoodis prestigiousitems. In principle, first-grade agarwood is one of the most expensive natural raw materials in the world. What type of agarwood that have value? Dr. Gayuhexplained that healthy agarwood usually has lower value, but trees which occassional become infected with a parasite mould secrete a fragrant, protective oil into wounded areas (roots, branches or sections of the trunk), which gradually become harder and dark brown to black.The heartwood (central part of a tree, which is darker in color than the sapwood) is relatively light and pale color before infection. Dr .Gayuhexplained,that fungi growing in a wounded aquilaria tree may cause Agarwood formation. The fungus acremonium, cylindrocarpon, and fusarium have successfully been used to induce artificially the formation of Agarwood in Aquilariasinensis in vivo.The resin embedded wood is commonly called gaharu, that produce distinctive fragrance,
When one of the listeners phoned and enquiried her whether there are farmers who have produced agarwood? Dr. Gayuh replied, "Although not quite many, but there are farmers who have started to produce agarwoods". The production of gaharu in Indonesia are natural products as they are from natural forests. In the dialog that was hosted by Ms. Lulu, Dr. Gayuh suggested for those who are interested in cultivating this tree, they should learn a lot from those who have started to cultivate, and always consult the experts or researchers who work on agarwood, she concluded. (Wied).
