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GAIBANDHA, Feb 11: Farmers have been traditionally producing pure sugarcane jaggery along the Jamuna River in Gaibandha district and customers arriving from far and wide say they are satisfied with their purchase of the natural sweetener made right in front of them.
The sweet scent of boiling raw sugarcane juice has been filling the morning air along the river since the last five months and the production will continue till March like every year. Jaggery makers sell their freshly made produce to thronging wholesalers and retailers.
One of the buyers said, "The market is now full of adulterated jaggery. Here, I am buying pure jaggery of my choice (made) right in front of my eyes. I am quite satisfied with it." Other customers expressed a similar sentiment.
Farmers in the char areas are increasingly leaning towards sugarcane cultivation as it is a flood tolerant crop, which has been grown on about 3,000 hectares along the Jamuna and Brahmaputra rivers this season, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Gaibandha.
On a visit to the spot, this correspondent has seen a festive mood prevailing during jaggery production by the farmers in Munshirhat, Banshhata, Pakhimara, Hasilkandi, Haldia, Sathalia and Kaniapara of the upazila.
Hafizur Rahman,
a jaggery producer from Hasilkandi area, said he completely follows the traditional way to make jaggery and since no harmful chemicals are used, he can maintain the taste and quality of his produce.
Following filtration, the raw sugarcane juice is heated for hours, which initially makes it denser and then the juice is allowed to cool down till it becomes jaggery.
"We are making a lot of profit because the price of jaggery is good," Hafizur said, adding that a handful of jaggery weighing about 900 grams is being sold at Tk 70-75.
Dr. Mozammel Haque, an agriculture expert and former official at the Department of Agricultural Extention, said the soil in the char areas is quite suitable for sugarcane cultivation. He also
that the crop is less susceptible to diseases and pests than others and the risk of natural disasters for the crop is also low. Therefore, farmers can benefit economically by cultivating sugarcane on the arable land in the char areas, Dr Mozammel added.
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