In the quiet hills of Palawan, Mang Tonyo, a 56-year-old farmer, had been growing Aquilaria malaccensis trees for nearly a decade. For years, the trees stood tall and green—but they lacked the one thing that made them valuable: agarwood resin.
One day, at a farmer’s cooperative training, Mang Tonyo learned about chemical inoculation—a way to “wake up” the tree’s natural defense system using special compounds like ferric chloride, sodium chloride, and magnesium chloride.
“Trees make agarwood when they feel attacked”, the trainer explained. “We can mimic that using stress inducers—just enough to trigger resin formation without hurting the tree.”
Mang Tonyo decided to try it. With guidance, he prepared a diluted solution of ferric chloride (FeCl₃). He carefully drilled a small hole in the trunk of one of his older trees, injected the solution, and sealed it. The next few weeks felt like waiting for a miracle.
And it happened.
The tree began to darken inside. A smell—deep, woody, and sweet—emerged. Resin had begun to form. Encouraged, he tested magnesium chloride on another tree. The results were slower but gentler, producing a milder scent. Later, he tried manganese oxide, and the tree produced a strikingly rich and dark resin.
Over time, Mang Tonyo learned which chemical worked best for his land, his climate, and the age of his trees. He kept detailed notes. Eventually, he sold his first few grams of agarwood resin—and for the first time, his hard work in the mountains returned more than just green leaves. It brought him real income.
“Hindi pala kailangan ng magic, kailangan lang ng tamang kaalaman,” Mang Tonyo said, smiling as he prepared more solutions—this time, not with fear, but with confidence.
Now, Mang Tonyo is a mentor to younger farmers. He teaches them to respect the tree, use the right dilution, and always follow safety guidelines. For him, chemical inoculants weren’t just tools—they were the key to unlocking the hidden treasure inside every Aquilaria tree.