Export item arum lobe producers exploited by middlemen
A Correspondent | Friday, 18 July 2008
JOYPURHAT, July 17: With bumper production, arum lobe farmers in Joypurhat have been hostage to unscrupulous middlemen owing to lack of adequate storage facility and alternative market.
Arum lobes have been a profitable produce for the local farmers since long. But a vicious circle of about 20 middlemen are siphoning off the major part of the profit. They are buying the creepers by reducing price recklessly. As there is no alternative market and cold storage for preservation, the peasants are bound to sell their creepers to them.
Farmers have been cultivating this potential exportable item for last 15 years. A huge quantity of lobes is exported abroad every year. As it is a profitable crop, its cultivation has increased manifold. Being benefited within a short time, farmers are rushing to lobe cultivation.
This year, it covered 1200 hectares of land. It grows in plenty in rainy season. In watery fields one-and-a-half feet creepers or lobes grow from arum herb.
As it is delicious as well as nutritious its demand is increasing day by day. Throughout North Bengal including Joypurhat, Bogra, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Dinajpur Arum lobes are cultivated commercially.
Lutfar Rahaman, a farmer of Patabuka village under Panchbibi upazila, said investing Tk 24 to Tk 30 thousand per acre, one can earn Taka 90 thousand to Taka 120 thousand in five months.
The creepers produced in Joypurhat are supplied to Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Sylhet, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and many other parts of the country.
For a few years, it is being exported to Britain, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman etc. Three Dhaka-based companies -- Urasia, Golden Harvest and Marino Limited -- export the creepers from Bangladesh.
Though every year a lot of foreign currency is earned, the government has not yet offered any patronisation. There is no fixed market place for selling the creepers. A temporary market under Panchbibi municipality serves as the hub of this exportable item.
This place is situated on the Dinajpur-Joypurhat highway at Battalla Bazar and its activities run from 6 am to 10 pm. About 15 thousand to 20 thousands maunds of lobes are sold every day and supplied to Dhaka, Khulna, Jessore, Bagerhat and other parts of the country.
Twenty middlemen allegedly control the market. The farmers are bound to receive lower prices from them. There is no cold storage that can preserve creepers. If supply increases, the middlemen get it at very cheap rates.
Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Abut Hayat said, "This produce is very profitable. Farmers can grow this crop easily in their low or watery lands. We encourage them to grow the crop."
Arum lobes have been a profitable produce for the local farmers since long. But a vicious circle of about 20 middlemen are siphoning off the major part of the profit. They are buying the creepers by reducing price recklessly. As there is no alternative market and cold storage for preservation, the peasants are bound to sell their creepers to them.
Farmers have been cultivating this potential exportable item for last 15 years. A huge quantity of lobes is exported abroad every year. As it is a profitable crop, its cultivation has increased manifold. Being benefited within a short time, farmers are rushing to lobe cultivation.
This year, it covered 1200 hectares of land. It grows in plenty in rainy season. In watery fields one-and-a-half feet creepers or lobes grow from arum herb.
As it is delicious as well as nutritious its demand is increasing day by day. Throughout North Bengal including Joypurhat, Bogra, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Dinajpur Arum lobes are cultivated commercially.
Lutfar Rahaman, a farmer of Patabuka village under Panchbibi upazila, said investing Tk 24 to Tk 30 thousand per acre, one can earn Taka 90 thousand to Taka 120 thousand in five months.
The creepers produced in Joypurhat are supplied to Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Sylhet, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and many other parts of the country.
For a few years, it is being exported to Britain, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman etc. Three Dhaka-based companies -- Urasia, Golden Harvest and Marino Limited -- export the creepers from Bangladesh.
Though every year a lot of foreign currency is earned, the government has not yet offered any patronisation. There is no fixed market place for selling the creepers. A temporary market under Panchbibi municipality serves as the hub of this exportable item.
This place is situated on the Dinajpur-Joypurhat highway at Battalla Bazar and its activities run from 6 am to 10 pm. About 15 thousand to 20 thousands maunds of lobes are sold every day and supplied to Dhaka, Khulna, Jessore, Bagerhat and other parts of the country.
Twenty middlemen allegedly control the market. The farmers are bound to receive lower prices from them. There is no cold storage that can preserve creepers. If supply increases, the middlemen get it at very cheap rates.
Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Abut Hayat said, "This produce is very profitable. Farmers can grow this crop easily in their low or watery lands. We encourage them to grow the crop."