Photo shows a date tree farmer, locally known as gachhis, busy collecting date juice from a tree at Tetulia in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district — FE Photo RAJSHAHI, Jan 01: The date molasses industry in Rajshahi region expects the year 2023 to be a most successful one fetching windfall profit for the businesses.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rajshahi set the molasses production target at 9,140.34 tonnes from 24,258.14 tonnes of date palm sap.
The market price of molasses per tonne was fixed at Tk1,60,000 this year.
Considering the market price, it was estimated that around Tk1.5 billion (Tk 149,99,31,203 crore) worth of date molasses will be traded in the district this season.
DAE also informed that there are 21,856 people involved in date molasses industry in Rajshahi region. Besides, there are 644 traders and 49,711 farmers. There are 90 molasses markets in the region.
Deputy Director of Rajshahi DAE Mozdar Hossain said, "It is expected that there will be a trade of Tk1.5 billion (149,99,31,203 crore) in Rajshahi district.
He added that date molasses will help the economy of Rajshahi region flourish further and contribute largely to employment generation.
During a visit to several markets, this correspondent came to learn that trading was going on amid full enthusiasm since morning.
Bagha upazila and Baneshwar and Jhalmalia of Puthia upazila of Rajshahi district hold large markets for date molasses two days a week.
The date-tree farmers, locally known as gachhis, sell most molasses in these three markets.
The artisans here have a great reputation for making Dana Gur (granular molasses), and Patali Gur (date palm jaggery); so the demand is high.
Apel Hossain, the owner of M/S Apple Agro in Bagha upazila, said there sits a molasses market in Bagha two days of the week- Sunday and Thursday.
During winter, hundreds of tonnes of molasses are sold in every market. This molasses goes to different places of the country including Dhaka and Manikganj.
Mizanur Rahman, a gachhis of Tethulia area of Bagha upazila, said that along with his own 50 date palm trees, he has taken 90 trees on lease from some nearby owners. The owners have to pay Tk300 to 400 for each tree.
He said, "I have already started molasses business by extracting sap from these trees. A mature date palm tree can yield 4 to 10 liters of sap per day during winter."
He further said that in the last winter, about Tk0.4 million (four lakh) was earned by making molasses from the juice of 150 trees. In addition, 30 people are employed in his business.
Shafiqul Islam, another gachhis of Kanpara area of Durgapur upazila, said, "We collect sap from trees for about four and a half months from the end of October to the middle of March. Each gachhis collects sap from 30 to 35 plants per day".
"The owner of the tree pays us Tk300 per day for taking care of the tree and collecting sap. We earn this money by working only for a few hours".
Last year molasses was sold at Tk80 to Tk100 per kg depending on the standard. But this time the prices of all things are increasing and molasses is being sold at a higher price. He also said that the molasses that has already been released in the market is being sold at the rate of Tk150 to Tk 160 per kg.
Deputy Director of Rajshahi DAE Mozdar Hossain said that date palm trees start giving sap from the age of six to seven years.
A tree gives sap up to 25 to 30 years of age. From the beginning of the Bangla month Kartik, the gachhis remain busy tending the date palm trees to ensure smooth collection of sap".
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