Traditional practice of palm husbandry in the southeastern region of rural Bangladesh: status and potentials

Abstract

An exploratory study was conducted in Feni, in southeast Bangladesh, to determine the status and potentials of palm husbandry in the rural economy. A total of 48 households in the study area were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The farmers were categorized into five groups based on their landholdings. Palms comprised the highest percentage (53%) of homegarden species. The most common palm was betel nut (Areca catechu). This species was distributed over five different geographical sites, of which roadsides were most common. Farmers with medium landholdings had the greatest number of palms. Farmers typically received considerably less compensation than distributors higher in the marketing chain who handled their product. Juice or sap from the wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris) gave the highest net average profit per liter and annual income per tree. Landless farmers gain the highest proportion of their mean annual income from palm husbandry.

Nutritional and biochemical attributes of present juice and Gur produced from date palm trees

“…In addition, date palm juice, which is harvested by tapping the tree's delicate trunk, is the main economic output of some remote districts of Bangladesh. About 200-250 L of juice per tree, containing 12-15% sucrose, is harvested during the taping season (Winter), and 25-30 kg of molasses is produced from this juice (Rana et al, 2009) [21] . In addition, it was mentioned that date palm juice, a favorite wintertime drink for soothing one's thirst, contains 9-14% sugar, a minor quantity of organic acid, some trace elements, and some volatile substances (Dalibard, 1999) [7] .…”

Development of value added drinks from date palm juice (Phoenix sylvestris)

“…In addition, date palm juice is the primary economic product of some marginal areas of Bangladesh that collects by tapping the tender trunk of the tree. During the tapping season (winter season), about 200-250 L of juice (containing 12-15% sucrose) is obtained per tree from which 25-30 kg molasses is prepared (Hussain, 2001;Rana et al, 2009). It was also reported that date palm juice contains 9-14% sugar, a tiny amount of organic acid, some trace elements, and some volatile components, which is very popular as thirst-quenching drinks (Dalibard, 1999) but is available only in the winter season.…”

Coexistence of different intrathalline symbiotic algae and bacterial biofilms in the foliose Canarian lichen Parmotrema pseudotinctorum

“…Phoenix sylvestris(L.) Roxb.India, Bangladesh stem below nondestr. Al, Be,Davis, 1972; terminal bud Su, Sy Kamaluddin et al, 1998;Chowdhury et al, 2008;Rana et al, 2009 …”