**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the development of Palm Oil, Agarwood, and Bamboo in the North Eastern Region (NER). It outlines the cumulative area under the National Palm Oil Mission until March 2025, targets for FY 2025-26, steps taken to expand Agarwood cultivation and exports, details of bamboo-sector projects, and measurable outcomes achieved in livelihood enhancement. The question was addressed on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Palm Oil Development**
* As of March 31, 2025, 68,324 ha has been brought under oil palm cultivation in NER under the National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm.
* The target for FY 2025-26 is to reach 92,543 ha.
* 47 nurseries have been established, and 22 additional nurseries have been approved for 2025-26.
* Seed garden strengthening is underway in Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Assam.
* Processing capacity has been enhanced with existing mills in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, with a new mill approved for Assam in 2025-26.
**Agarwood Cultivation and Exports**
* Cultivation of agar trees is part of a continuing plantation program, including agroforestry.
* Botanical Survey of India estimated 13.51 crores agar trees on private land in NER in 2024.
* A roadmap for sustainable cultivation, processing, and trade was approved in 2024.
* NE States are advised to prepare area-expansion plans with geospatial mapping support in Tripura and Assam.
* Export promotion is strengthened with enhanced export quotas under CITES Convention to 1,51,080 kg for chips and 7,050 kg for oil.
* Export application processing is integrated on the DGFT portal.
* GI tagging is being pursued by NERAMAC in collaboration with NEC.
* Proof of Concept (PoC) has been prepared for two Agarwood clusters in Kadamtala (Tripura) and Golaghat (Assam).
**Bamboo Sector Projects**
* 23 projects worth ₹154.03 crore have been sanctioned by NEC to strengthen the bamboo sector in NER.
* NECBDC has trained 4907 bamboo artisans and officials in the last three years.
* DoNER has sanctioned two projects with a total outlay of Rs 82.50 crore to strengthen traditional bamboo artisan clusters and promote engineered bamboo products.
**Overall Initiatives**
* The Government has implemented initiatives to strengthen bamboo, oil palm, and agarwood value chains in NER.
* Focus is on livelihood enhancement, export performance, and industry development.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers across the NER**
*Impact:* Benefit from increased availability of quality planting materials, enhanced processing infrastructure, and support for cultivation and export of Palm Oil, Agarwood, and Bamboo.
*Action Required:* Engage with the initiatives to expand cultivation and improve processing and trade of their products.
**Bamboo Artisans and Officials**
*Impact:* Benefit from training programs and strengthened traditional bamboo artisan clusters through market access enhancement and product modernization.
*Action Required:* Participate in training programs and leverage the enhanced market access and modernization initiatives.
**Ministries and Government Bodies (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, NEC, NECBDC, DoNER, NERAMAC)**
*Impact:* Responsible for implementing and monitoring the initiatives related to Palm Oil, Agarwood, and Bamboo development in the NER.
*Action Required:* Continue implementing programs, provide support, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with goals.
**Exporters/Traders of Agarwood**
*Impact:* Benefit from streamlined exports and enhanced export quotas under the CITES Convention.
*Action Required:* Utilize the streamlined processes on the DGFT portal and adhere to the new export quotas.
Key Entities Referenced
National Palm Oil Mission: A mission focused on expanding palm oil cultivation in the North Eastern Region (NER) with targets for area coverage, nursery development, and processing infrastructure.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region: The nodal ministry for development initiatives, including the promotion of Palm Oil, Agarwood, and Bamboo cultivation in the North Eastern Region (NER).
North Eastern Region (NER): The geographical area to which the initiatives and projects related to palm oil, agarwood, and bamboo development apply. Includes states like Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
Agarwood: Targeted cultivation and export expansion including revised export quotas, GI registration and cluster development in states such as Assam and Tripura.
Bamboo: Targeted bamboo-sector projects focusing on artisan training, product development, and market linkage initiatives in the North Eastern Region.
Government of India
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
LOK SABHA
Unstarred Question No. 2850
To be answered on
Wednesday, December 17, 2025/Agrahayana 26, 1947 (Saka)
QUESTION
Development of Palm Oil, Agarwood and Bamboo in NER
2850. Shri Tapir Gao:
Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be
pleased to state:
(a) the cumulative area brought under the National Palm Oil Mission in the North
Eastern Region (NER) till March 2025 along with the target for FY 2025-26 and the
status of nurseries, seed gardens and processing infrastructure established under
the initiative;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to expand agarwood cultivation and
exports, including details of the revised export quota, GI registration status, cluster
development in Assam and Tripura along with centralized licensing mechanisms
introduced to support growers;
(c) the details of the numbers and value of bamboo-sector projects sanctioned so
far, including artisan-training programmes, engineered bamboo product lines and
market-linkage initiatives through e-commerce storefronts and B2B platforms; and
(d) the measurable outcomes achieved in livelihood enhancement, export
performance and industry diversification through the development of these three
value chains, Palm Oil, Agarwood and Bamboo during the last one year?
ANSWER
The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
[Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]
(a) As per Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, as on 31st March 2025, a
cumulative area of 68,324 ha has been brought under oil palm cultivation in the
North Eastern Region (NER) under National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm, with a
target to reach 92,543 ha in 2025–26. To support expansion, 47 nurseries have beenestablished and 22 additional nurseries approved for 2025–26.Besides,
strengthening of seed gardens has been taken up in Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, and Assam. Processing capacity has also been enhanced with
two operational mills in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Mizoram. A new mill has been
approved for Assam in 2025–26. The Mission focuses on expanding area coverage,
ensuring timely availability of quality planting materials, and strengthening
processing infrastructure to benefit farmers across the NER.
(b) Cultivation of agar trees is a part of continuing plantation programme including
agroforestry, of the States. The Botanical Survey of India in an assessment made in
2024 has indicated that there are about 13.51 crores agar trees grown on private
land in NER. Due to its high export potential, Government on the basis of
recommendation of an Inter-Ministerial Task Force in 2023 approved a roadmap in
2024 to guide sustainable cultivation, processing and trade. The NE States have
been advised to prepare area-expansion plans, supported by geospatial mapping in
Tripura and Assam, while export promotion has been significantly strengthened
through enhancement of annual export quotas under CITES Convention to 1,51,080
kg for chips and 7,050 kg for oil. To streamline exports, processing of application for
export of agarwood products has been integrated on the DGFT portal. GI tagging
has also been taken up by North Eastern Region Agricultural Marketing Corporation
(NERAMAC) Ltd in collaboration with North Eastern Council (NEC). Proof of Concept
(PoC) has also been prepared for development of two Agarwood clusters at
Kadamtala (Tripura) and Golaghat (Assam). Collectively, these interventions aim to
expand cultivation, strengthen value chains, and boost agarwood exports from the
North Eastern Region.
(c) A total 23 projects worth ₹154.03 crore for strengthening bamboo sector in
NER have been sanctioned by NEC so far. North East Cane and Bamboo
Development Council (NECBDC) has trained a total of 4907 bamboo artisans and
officials during the last three years. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
(DoNER) has sanctioned two Projects with a total outlay of Rs 82.50 crore for
strengthening of traditional bamboo artisan clusters by enhancing market access,
modernizing products, and linking them with digital and retail ecosystem; as well as
for promotion of engineered bamboo products through cluster strengthening and
export facilitation in NER.(d) Over the last year, the Government has implemented comprehensive
initiatives across the NER to strengthen bamboo, oil palm, and agarwood value
chain by focusing on livelihood enhancement, export performance and development
of industries through the development of these three value chains, palm oil,
agarwood and bamboo, including the measurable outcomes as mentioned in part
(a), (b) and (c) above of the reply.
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