Maoming Issues Trial Technical Guidelines for Efficient Agarwood Cultivation, Standardising the Whole Production Chain

Covering the chain from seedling to resin to pest control

To support high-quality development of the local agarwood sector, the office of Maoming's agarwood industry improvement task force has formally issued the (trial) Technical Guidelines for Efficient Agarwood Cultivation. The document provides technical guidance for standardised artificial planting and production management, intended for growers, operating companies and front-line technical staff.

Grounded in Maoming's climate and soil conditions, the guidelines apply to the city and to regions with comparable conditions. On propagation, they distinguish seed-based and grafting-based methods, regulate the construction of seed orchards and cutting orchards, and set out grading, hardening-off before dispatch, and traceability under the "two certificates, one label, one instruction" system — the forestry seed production and operation licence, the plant quarantine certificate, the seedling label, and the seedling/seed usage instructions.

Three inoculation methods codified in one framework

For afforestation, the guidelines give site preparation, planting and tending plans broken down by slope and forest land type, with detailed care measures for young and mature stands, balancing ecological protection with planting returns. On artificial resin induction, they standardise tree selection, timing, the three mainstream methods — fire drilling, cold drilling and transfusion — and harvesting, while also covering identification of major pests and diseases and green control measures. A full set of production record forms is included, making the entire cultivation process traceable.

The guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory. Felling, seedling management and plant quarantine remain governed by existing laws and regulations. Maoming will next run extension and training sessions to bring the standards to growers in the field, aiming to raise cultivation standards, increase farmer incomes and support ecological development.

This article is industry observation and general information, not trading or investment advice. Please buy agarwood only through legal channels and look for traceable, testable sources.