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Sales of palm shells have surged in Khulna city amid the sultry summer heat that made public life unbearable.
Throughout the nine upazilas of Khulna district, people are seen on both sides of roads, offering baskets filled with palm shells to get respite from the extreme heat.
The prices of the seasonal juicy palm kernels have skyrocketed due to the sweltering hot weather.
Like other places in the country, Khulna markets are also flooded with various fruits, including mangoes and litchis.
Along with that, delicious Asian Palmyra palm among other seasonal fruits are also available. The price of this fruit is increasing amid the extreme heat.
Motiar Rahman, a palm trader in Khulna city, said, "We collect palms from owners of palm trees in the villages and sell them at various markets."
Palm pulps are now being sold in various market areas of the district, including various alleys of Khulna City Corporation area. Traders are selling a shell at Tk 5 to Tk 10.
According to them, the use of toxic formalin has become very common in the case of other seasonal fruits, including mangoes and litchi.
"Every year this time we sell palm pulps," he said, adding that its demand is growing. Besides, its prices are also good. I make a profit of Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,500 per day.
The palm trader said that it is difficult to cut the fruit from palm trees. A tree grows 300 to 400 palms. Its sales start from the first week of the summer.
Kamrul Hasan, who came to Chuknagor Bazaar to buy palm shells, said palm pulps are more beneficial than oily food in hot weather. It is a delicious fruit which has many qualities. It is good to eat in extreme heat. That's why he came to buy palm pulps.
Shamim Ahmed, agricultural officer in Dumuria Upazila, said there has been a good harvest of palm this year. Palm saplings have been planted on both sides of many rural roads and canals in the upazila.
Palm trees have many benefits, including lightning resistance. At the field level, farmers are being encouraged to be more proactive in planting palm trees.
Moushumi Akter, health and family planning officer in Dumuria upazila, said palm kernels are very beneficial. On hot days, the aqueous part of the palm pulps removes the water vacuum.
It contains many minerals, including calcium, vitamins A, B and C, Zinc, potassium and iron. The antioxidants in the palm increase the body's resistance to disease and the shell of the raw palm eliminates anaemia and increases eyesight and appetite.