Date palm tree climbers, locally known as gachhis, are busy preparing trees for the upcoming winter season in Jashore, as rising production costs threaten the profitability of the region’s traditional date palm sap and jaggery industry.
Across the district, the familiar sounds of knives and ropes signal the start of preparations. Gachhis are pruning old branches and scraping the tops of date palm trees to make them ready for sap collection ahead of winter.
The industry is a major contributor to the local economy and a source of livelihood for hundreds of people. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the sector generated economic transactions worth approximately Tk 120 crore during the previous winter season.
A visit to Khajura in No. 2 Bandabila Union of Bagherpara Upazila found gachhis clearing branches and preparing trees for the installation of earthen pots, locally known as thila, which will collect the sweet sap.
The sap is then traditionally boiled over wood fires to produce jaggery and patali gur, a solid form of date palm jaggery.
Samaren Biswas, Additional Deputy Director (crops) at the DAE in Jashore, said the district’s date palm jaggery sector generates economic transactions worth more than Tk 120 crore during the winter season.
He said the authorities were considering ways to preserve the traditional industry through modernization, including research into improved tree-tapping tools and techniques.
Biswas also noted the potential for exporting date palm jaggery and sap-based products to international markets, including the Middle East.
However, producers say rising costs of essential materials and daily necessities have made the business increasingly challenging.
“A maund of firewood now costs Tk 300-350, while a good-quality knife costs Tk 1,000-1,200. Earthen pots cost Tk 100-150 each. The prices of rice, lentils and edible oil have also increased,” local gachhis said.
They added that a single date palm tree yields only around 7-8 kilograms of jaggery over an entire season, making it difficult to cover expenses if market prices fail to reflect production costs.
Climbing trees and collecting sap require considerable physical effort, the producers said, expressing concern that inadequate prices could make it difficult to support their families.
Despite the financial pressure, gachhis say they remain committed to maintaining the quality of their products. Nets are placed over the openings of collection pots to prevent contamination by dirt, mosquitoes, insects and other animals.
The collected sap is then boiled carefully under hygienic conditions.
The region’s patali gur, known for its firm outer layer and soft, juicy interior, is popular among consumers in Bangladesh and expatriate communities abroad.
Meanwhile, the growing popularity of online commerce has created new opportunities for the industry. Entrepreneurs are taking orders online and delivering date palm jaggery to customers across the country.
The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has begun work on establishing quality standards for liquid date palm sap syrup and jhola gur, a soft, semi-liquid form of jaggery, as well as pursuing certification from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
Formal exports could open new markets and increase earnings for local producers and entrepreneurs.
The industry nevertheless faces several long-term challenges, including a declining number of date palm trees, a shortage of new entrants to the profession and rising production costs.
As preparations continue across Jashore, gachhis are hoping for favourable weather and fair prices this season to sustain their livelihoods and preserve a traditional industry that has been part of the region’s cultural and economic heritage for generations.