A man is busy preparing his clay pots to collect syrup from date palm trees. Photo: Md Hasanul Banna
The date juice business and trade have emerged as a significant benefit for many individuals during this winter season, transforming numerous juice collectors into solvent entrepreneurs and bringing joy to their faces.
In Bogura, a substantial number of date juice collectors have embarked on collecting the delectable juice from date trees as the winter season unfolds. This endeavor proves to be lucrative for them as they venture into selling jaggery, commonly known as "gur," and patali to various regions across the country.
Dating back to ancient times, date juice and molasses have been cherished as delightful winter delicacies. Consequently, many individuals cultivate date trees alongside other cash crops, contributing to the economic viability of the region.
In the Nandigram upazila of the district, the tradition of crafting patali-gur has commenced in every village, signifying a vibrant start to the seasonal festivities.
While palm trees once adorned the landscape in traditional rows, the passage of time has seen their gradual disappearance. With the onset of winter, the gachhi, or juice collectors, revive the age-old tradition of harvesting sap from date palm trees in rural Bengal.
This practice not only preserves cultural heritage but also brings economic prosperity to the communities involved.
During the winter season, a delightful drink is obtained from the sap of palm trees. The gachhi participate in sap collection competitions from the beginning to the end of winter, increasing the value of palm trees in various unions of Nandigram Upazila.
For four months each year, the gachhi collect sweet sap from palm trees, using it to produce jaggery. Cedar is highly popular for its delicious taste and health benefits. In winter, people from the city used to visit rural Bengal to enjoy date palm juice. The colder the winter, the sweeter the date tree sap.
Date palm trees provide sap for 8 to 10 years, and during the entire winter season, the sap is used to make jaggery, pitha, puli, and pies. Palm leaves are also utilized to craft attractive and durable rugs and are widely used in fuel production. However, due to climate change, these traditional and eco-friendly palm trees of rural Bengal are facing extinction.
Farmers like Kayem Uddin from Bhatra Union express concern about the disappearing date palm trees. They collect sap at the beginning of winter and, apart from selling raw juice, produce patali and jhola jaggery to sell in the market. Gachhi Enamul Haque of No. 1 Buril Union predicts the possible extinction of date palm trees in the area if the current trend continues.
To preserve this tradition, there is a call for planting more palm trees and nurturing them carefully. Gachi Khorshed Alam of No. 4 Thalta Majhgram Union emphasizes the increasing disappearance of date palm trees and highlights the consistent demand for palm tree products during the winter season.
Nandigram Upazila Agriculture Officer Gaziul Haque suggests planting date trees on both sides of various roads in Nandigram Upazila to meet juice and molasses needs without harming crops. This year, 7 thousand date trees have been prepared for collecting date juice in 5 unions, producing 225 metric tons of jaggery. Various sweet products made from date palm juice are bringing significant profits to those selling them in nearby markets. The preservation of this thousand-year-old heritage relies on collective efforts to plant and care for more palm trees.
Overall, the tradition of collecting date palm juice and producing jaggery is deeply rooted in rural Bengal, providing economic opportunities for local communities and contributing to the region's cultural heritage.
Messenger/Fameema
