Abstract

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the socio-demographic factors of the agar micro-entrepreneurs, the present status of production and marketing, the Covid-19 pandemic impacts and general problems of agar-based enterprises and their potential for further improvement. An exploratory survey was undertaken over 50 randomly selected micro-entrepreneurs (ME) and information was collected by face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. As per respondents’ feedback, majority (100%) of the respondents engaged in agar oil or agarwood chips and dust processing besides agar plantation. In a zest, most of the MEs were launched within the past 20 years and more than 50% of them were found to beinvolved agar plantation directly. For waste product management, the majority of the MEs had processed water as waste having a disposal amount of 101-400 kg/day. In the case of production and post-production activities, more than half of the respondents (54%) escaped longer pre-fermentation steps and extracted oil direct by hydro-distillation method using heating, collection, post-production and purification steps. Most of the extraction plants were locally fabricated (46%). The respondents did not run any promotional activity and their products did not comply with traceability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the MEs had to face a substantial financial loss monthly and did not receive any financial support from GoB, NGOs, or other organizations. To secure the maximum benefits from these agar-based MEs, respondents proposed financial support and quality raw materials, availability of experts, financial support, proper transportation facilities, labeling, and opportunities for expansion of market facilities.

Key words: Agar essential oil, Micro-enterprises, Pre-production, Post-production