The seasonal trade of palm fruit pulp has become increasingly popular in Nabinagar of Brahmanbaria, while the number of palm trees in the area continues to decline.
Vendors are now selling raw palm fruit pulp at various points in Nabinagar town, including along the Nabinagar-Companyganj Road, Upazila Gate, Government College Gate, beside the Government High School, and different market intersections. Each piece of raw palm fruit pulp is being sold for Tk 30 to Tk 40, while a bundle is selling for Tk 300 to Tk 400. In comparison, a bundle of ripe palm fruit is being sold for around Tk 200. According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, there are currently about 7,600 palm trees across 21 unions and one municipality in the upazila. A large number of these trees are located in Shyamgram, Rachullabad, Ratnapur, Satmora, Laur-Fatehpur, Bitghar, Shibpur, Barikandi, and Salimganj unions. Local resident Abdul Rahim said palm fruit is becoming increasingly scarce compared to previous years. He said people once used to sell fresh palm juice by the roadside, but that scene has almost disappeared. He expressed concern that palm fruit pulp may also become unavailable in the future due to the rapid cutting of palm trees. He added that four palm fruits, which once sold for Tk 70 to Tk 90, now cost around Tk 250.
Buyer Majedul Islam said palm fruit is a delicious and beneficial seasonal fruit. He urged people to plant more palm trees to preserve the traditional taste and protect rural heritage. Seasonal fruit trader Abul Mia, a resident of Majhikara village under Nabinagar municipality, has been selling palm fruit beside the Government College Gate for the past five years. He said he hopes to become financially self-reliant this year after facing losses in recent years for various reasons.
Another trader, Abdul Rashid from Shyamgram Union, has been in the palm fruit business for 12 years. He said a bundle of palm fruit once sold for Tk 180, but now the price has risen to Tk 700 to Tk 800. A bundle of palm pulp now sells for Tk 300 to Tk 350.
He added that he buys each palm tree for around Tk 2,500 and earns Tk 4,500 to Tk 4,700 by selling its fruits, making a profit of about Tk 3,000 per tree.
Nabinagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Jahangir Alam Liton said palm pulp is tasty and nutritious, while palm juice is also highly beneficial. Palm juice is used to produce molasses and sugar candy.
He said climate change is contributing to the decline of palm trees, though the Agriculture Office has been encouraging people to plant more trees. He added that the Ministry of Disaster Management has also undertaken initiatives to plant palm seeds and saplings as palm trees help reduce the impact of lightning strikes and natural disasters.
The agriculture official said many people in rural areas cut down palm trees because they produce fruit only once a year and generate comparatively lower profits than timber trees. However, he stressed that palm trees play an important role in protecting people from lightning strikes and natural disasters.
