Papers

CHAPTER: FOUR

Result and Discussion

Socio-economic and demographic features of the farmer:

4.1: Family size and earring member of date palm farmers in Gobindapur village

In the study area total no. of households were 48 with total population of 456. This table shows the family size of the study area was varied from minimum of 8 to maximum of 12, average 9.8 members per family. Earning members of the study area varied from a minimum of 102 to maximum of 4, average is 2.3. The earning members constituted 23.57% of the total family members of the study area.

Category	Average family size	Average earning members	% of earning members in the family
High income group n=16	12	3.5	29.16
Medium income group n=16	9	2.3	25.55
Low income group n=16	7.5	1.2	16
Average	9.5	2.33	23.57

4.2: Age class distribution:

Out of total households members 22.53% where lass the 10 years old, 12.72 % were in 11-20, 22.15% in 21-30, 14.64 in 31-40, 13.23 % in 41-50, 5.74% in 51-60 and 8.99%b were older then 60 years. The maximum percentages of people 22.23% were less then 10years old and minimum 5.67 fall under the group of 51-60 age classes.

Gender	Age group (years)
	0-10	11-20	21-40	41-50	51-60	>60	Total
Male(%) n=276	22.83	13.77	14.85	9.78	7.6	7.97	100
Female (%) n=180	22.22	11.66	14.44	16.67	3.89	10	100
Total(%) n=456	22.53	12.72	14.64	13.23	5.74	8.99	100

4.3. Educational status of farmers: Among the literate people highest percentage constitutes primary level (25.00%) followed by secondary (22.92%). The lowest 10.42% of the respondents are under graduate.

Education level	Number of household surveyed	Percentage (%)
Illiterate	3	6.25
Primary	12	25.00
Secondary	11	22.92
Higher secondary	10	20.83
Under graduate	7	14.58
Graduate	5	10.42
Total	48	100

4.4: Land use/Area of the household at Gobindapur village:

In the study area the local people use there land as homestead land and for agricultural crop production. The use their homestead areas in a various. In case of high income group of households average land holdings were 4.047 hectare among them 0.2428 were homestead land,3.055 hectare were agricultural land and remaining 0.79 hectare land were used for various purposes and corresponding figures for medium income group where 0.1618 hectare, 1.7808 hectare and 0.2834 hectare respectively. For low in come group it was 0.1011 hectare, 0.302 hectare and 0.0016 hectare. Out of the total homestead area of high income group 0.0948 hectare area was covered by tree species and out of total agricultural land 0.086 hectare was covered by tree. Corresponding figures for medium income group was 0.0928 hectare and 0.055 hectare respectively. For low income group these figures were 0.053 hectare and 0.041 hectare respectively. For total households 6.49% of total agricultural land and 49.6 % of total homestead areas was covered by tree.

Category	Average land holding per (hec)	% of Homestead land	% of Agricultural land	% others land	% of tree cover in agricultural land	% of tree cover in homestead areas
High income group n=16	4.047	4.99	75.5	19.51	2.82	39.04
Medium income group n=16	2.226	7.27	80	12.73	3.09	57.35
Low income group n=16	0.4047	24.98	74.6	0.42	13.57	52.42
Average	2.2259	12.41	76.7	10.89	6.49	49.6

4.5: Gender role in date palm production operation:

It is observed that in the selection of the planting of the Date palm male participation is 100% and female is zero. Corresponding figure for male and female for Maintenance is 60% and 40% respectively.,Harvesting for male and female are 80% and 20%. Marketing is done for male and female are 90% and 10%.

Nursery		Planting		Maintenance		Harvesting		Marketing
Male	female	Male	female	Male	female	Male	female	Male	female
25%	-	100%	-	60%	40%	80%	20%	90%	10%

4.6: Distribution of Date palm:

Table 5.4: Geographical and age class distribution of Date palms in Gopalganj district, Bangladesh. Seven different sites namely canal banks, road sides, homesteads, ails, agricultural fields, pond banks and orchards were observed to be the habitat of Date palm in the study area. It was found that the occurrence of palms in the orchard represented the highest value (20.51%) followed by homestead (19.44%), pond bank (15.00%), ail (14.85%), agricultural field (13.74%), road side (10.15%) and canal bank (6.31%). In all the cases, the dominating age-classes were >7-14 years and >14-21 years. The palms that are located by the roadside are under the jurisdiction of the District Commissioner (DC) and those who want to harvest these palms are to take permission from DC. The tappers usually avoid sharing the palms on the roadside due to bureaucratic complexity.

Sites	Age classes (Years)
	5-7	>7 -14	>14 - 21	>21– 28	>28	Total	Percentage
Canal Bank	12	34	38	31	10	125	6.31
Road Side	11	71	58	42	19	201	10.15
Homestead	44	109	100	102	30	385	19.44
Ails	29	67	83	79	36	294	14.85
Agri-field	21	70	92	69	20	272	13.74
Pond Bank	15	75	93	85	29	297	15.00
Orchard	16	138	143	84	25	406	20.51
Total	148	564	607	492	169	1980	100
Percentage	7.47	28.48	30.66	24.85	8.54	100	--

FigFigure: Geographical distribution of Date palm

4.7: Planting and maintenance of the Date palm:

It was revealed that the farmers preferred collection of wildings from the ails of agricultural land. Planting was reported to be done in rainy season (Mid-June to Mid-August) in the orchards with a spacing of 5² x 5². According to the farmers the site must be selected carefully containing no stagnant water. They opined that some cultural operations are required in the palm husbandry. A few farmers (27.5%) were reported to use urea fertilizer from a belief of increasing juice productivity in the palms. Sometimes Ula (Imperata cylindrica) or some other grasses smother the seedlings. But farmers were found to seldom pay proper attention for weeding of the palms. The farmers also opined that two to four years after planting, when ten to twelve leaves (locally called daigo), of 1.5 to 2 m long are seen to produce in the palms; two to four of them are cut leaving the 15 – 20 cm leaf base with the trunk. This operation was reported to usually be done before winter every year.

The farmers reported that the palms were subjected to be attacked by the grazing animals particularly in their young stage with tender leaves. To avoid the grazing animals, 45% farmers were observed to use fences, while the others were reported to apply an indigenous technique in which they make a solution of cow dung by mixing it with water and broadcast the mixture on the tender leaves so that the cattle can’t browse them due to the presence of cow dung. An insect, locally called Maize poka was reported to attack the crown of the palm and damage its central tender portion resulting in the death of the palm within a year.

Farmers were seen to use Thiadin (an insecticide) with water at a ratio of 1:10 over the crown by spraying. Occurrence of fungal attack mainly in young tapped palms in shady places was reported by the farmers which results in the death of the palm within a short time.

4.8. Tapping techniques:

Tapping of the palms was reported to be the prerequisite for collecting juice . References to palm tapping date back long before the birth of Christ and also the famous Roman chronicler and historian Plinius makes mention of it (Darby et al. 1977).

Tapping starts with a time consuming and technique worthy preparation. The farmers opined that unskilled tappers might sometimes cause the palm to death. Usually palms of more than 5 years are selected for tapping when woody stem attains a height of at least 2 feet. The instruments used for tapping observed in the study area were dao (a sharp iron made cutting device with larger and thinner blade), chisel, bamboo made basket used for carrying the instruments, rope, bamboo made carrier, earthen jars etc.

Tapping operation was observed to be started at the onset of winter by a series of pruning usually 3 to 4 times. A palm having at least 2 feet woody trunk was reported to be tapped leaving 1foot below. After 6 days of last pruning the palm is scratched with the dao and chisel during which thin scraps from the upper portion of the trunk are removed. On the 7th day, a tapping channel is cut and a bamboo made spout of 4 inches is inserted on the freshly cut trunk, another end of which is poured into the earthen jar placed and fastened just below the spout. The jar is placed at the evening on the palm leaving for the whole night and the juice-filled jar is collected very early in the next morning. The scratching of the trunk is done in every 7th day providing the palm a resting period of 3 days. They reported the possibility of reducing juice production, molasses quality and death of the palm if it is not given the resting period of 3 days.

4.9: Planting materials used and source of planting materials of the date palm:

In the study area, the farmer is used seed, seedlings as planting materials for the production of the palms. Plants are also grown by wildings. Seeds and seedlings are normally their own production. They also collect it from their neighbors.

Planting materials					Sources
Seed	seedling	wilding	clumps		Own	Neighbor	Market
20	65	15			65	20	15

4.10: Total juice productions by different aged palms on different sites in every 3 nights:

The study shows that palms in the agricultural fields and in the ails (both produce equal amount of juice), and within >7-14 years produce the highest amount of juice (2500ml, on an average, each night) and the total amount of juice yielded was 7500ml. The palms of >5-7 and >28 years were reported to produce the least amount of juice while canal bank and roadside do the same (Table 5.8). Though the data represents that, palms growing in the homesteads, ails and agricultural fields yield same amount of juice but the farmers claim that palms growing in the ails produce more juice than the others.

Production of juice (ml)/3 nights
Sites	Age classes (Years)
	>5-7	>7-14	>14-21	>21-28	>28
Canal Bank	3800	5900	4850	4850	3800
Road Side	3500	5600	4700	4700	3500
Homestead	4400	6650	5900	5900	4400
Ails	4400	7500	6450	6450	4400
Agricultural field	4400	7500	6450	6450	4400
Pond Bank	3800	5900	4850	4850	3800
Orchard	4100	6500	5750	5750	4100

4.11: Consumption of date palm:

In the study areas total date palm is found 1980 among 1980 date palm High income group farmers ,Medium income group farmers, Low income group farmers managed 920,610 and 450 respectively.

Househld category	Date palm managed	% of the Date palm managed
High income group n=16	920	46.46
Medium income group n=16	610	30.81
Low income group n=16	450	22.73
Total	1980	100

4.12. Date palm product obtained from different sharing bases.

For the convenience of calculation, in case of molasses-sharing the molasses is calculated as a conversion of juice where 6 liter juice = 1 Kg molasses (Thumb rule), though in practice farmers manufacture molasses and pay the portion of it to the owners.1 date palm tree produce average 8 liter juice (thumb rule)

Household Category	Juice obtained (from 50-50sharing) .(Liter)	Molasses obtained (from 50-50sharing).(kg)
High income group n=16	84640	14106.66
Medium income group n=16	56120	9353.34
Low income group n=16	41400	6900
Total	182160	30360

4.13: Tapping and juice production:

Fig: Juice collection.

It was revealed that tapping of the palms for juice production started from mid October and continued to mid March for approximately 152 days in winter season (Fig. 3). In this 152 days, palms are tapped in such manner as (152-15)/6 = 23 times (approx.) (3 days for juice production + 3 days for resting = 6 days, where the 15 days are required for the preparation of tapping). After tapping, the palms produce juice in the next 3 days, including the day of tapping, but in a diminishing manner. Usually in the day of tapping a palm produce the highest amount of juice.

4.14: Processing of Date palm products:

The juice was reported to be consumed fresh, or after being fermented, or even distilled into spirit, or evaporated down to the viscous and crude sugar (molasses) in the study area. Such concept was also supported by Griffith (1850), Blatter (1978) and Anon. (2000). Molasses is prepared by cooking palm juice up to a desired degree. Usually the tappers collect juice-filled jar, locally called Var, at the very dawn and bring it to the place of cooking by a carrier made of bamboo-Bak. The farmers use a burner (Baan) of square shape and a tin made pan (Tala) with a size of 3¢ x 2.5¢ or 4¢ x 3.5¢ possessing a capacity of containing 6 kg and 8 kg of molasses, respectively.

The burning place was reported to either be ex-situ at the homestead or in-situ in the field. The in-situ procedure was observed to be maintained by males providing some facilities of not carrying the juice to homesteads and of fuel wood availability. Usually the pruned branches, dried leaves and grasses are used as fuel wood in the field.

On the other hand, the ex-situ procedure is usually maintained by females and extra cost for fuel wood has to be then incurred.

Before burning the juice is screened well to remove the dust. Thereafter the Tala is filled with juice and burning starts. After half an hour there produces a layer of white foam on the cooking juice which is collected by large wooden spoon (Orong) and cast. For a Tala of 3¢ x 2.5¢ size burning time is 2 hours and for a Tala of 4¢ x 3.5¢ size it is 2.5 hoursThereafter the Tala is filled with juice and burning starts., a little amount of boiled juice is taken in an earthen pot and stirring it with an Orong with some pressure does crystallization. Usually it takes 4-5 minutes for crystallization. The crystal is mixed well with the hot boiled juice and cooked at low temperature for few minutes and thus molasses is formed. Crystallization process is locally called “biz tola” which is done for the condensation of the molasses. According to the farmers there is a thumb rule that 1.5 liters of juice produces 100 gm or a var of juice produces 1 kg of molasses. After cooling the molasses is poured in the var, the mouth of which is tied with polythene to make it air tight and stored in a cool place.

A solid molasses locally called Patali was observed to be manufactured by the farmeusually 10-15 minutes. Such long duration of crystallization impels the molasses to be condensed rapidly. Then the highly crystallized molasses is mixed with the hot molasses in Tala and stirred well for well mixing and cooked for a while. Thereafter some structures are created according to the probable shape of the Patali and the molasses is poured on it. In the study area the shape of the Patali was seen square shaped. This square shape is usually formed by arranging the jute sticks one layer in the horizontal direction on the ground and the other layer on it in the vertical direction so that a number of squares are formed. After that, a piece of cloth is placed on it in such a way that each square becomes a container. Then the hot molasses is poured on it and kept untouched for 30-45 minutes. Thus Patali is formed and is removed form the cloth and stored in a cool dry place.

A hard beverage locally called Tari was also observed to be made by the farmers. The basic Chemically it may be called the aster of molasses.

For preparing this wine the farmers were found not to wash the vars for 2/3 days after removing fresh juice from it which results in the formation of whitish lees at the bottom. Then the vars are filled with screened juice and kept in the sun. The duration of keeping them in the sun was reported to vary with the season.

In winter the time duration is 24 hours and in hot season it is 15 hours. A three-layer formation is then found inside the var. The top layer is of foam which is carefully cast away, the mid layer possesses clear liquid which is the Tari, and the third one is the white layer of lees. The Tari from the second layer is filtered out which is ready for drink and sale. Being of lower grade this type of Tari is not so hard. To make it harder the farmers were reported to add 10 gm of sago grain for each var and mixed with the juice. The farmers estimated that 9 liters juice is required to prepare 4 liters of Tari, which can be stored for at best one to two days.

4.15: Marketing of Date palm product:

Majority of Date palm products are sold to the local markets and to the neibhors.Some times the whole seller come to the house and buys the products to the urban market .For the buying of date palm juices buyers come to the site where the farmers and collect the juice.

Producer→Whole seller→ Retailer →Consumers

Or

Producer→ Consumers

Or

Producer →Middleman →Whole seller →Retailer →Consumers

There are several problem arises in the marketing of Date palm products.the local farmer doesn’t get the proper price of their product due to improper marketing system.Sometimes the middleman and the whole seller get the maximum benefit from the farmer’s products. No price regulation systems were maintained in the marketing of the Date palm products.

4.16. Seasonal income from date palm product

Household Category	Total income obtained from date products (Juice, Molasses, Patali, Tari etc) (Tk)
High income group n=16	423200
Medium income group n=16	280600
Low income group n=16	207000

The price of each product determined according to the local market(March 2009)

1 liter juice =5 taka,1kg molasses=30 taka,1kg patali=50 taka,1 glass tari=5taka.

4.17. Contribution of income from date palm in mean annual income.

Date palm contributed 10.58% of total annual income to high income group farmer and for medium and low income group the figure was 14.61% and 32.34% respectively. Finally in the study area Date palm contributed 19.18% of total annual income of the households.

Household Category	Average Annual income obtain from date palm per each family(Tk)	Total annual income (Tk)	% of mean annual income
High income group	26450	250,000	10.58
Medium income group	17537.5	120.,000	14.61
Low income group	12937.5	40,000	32.34

Figure:Average Annual income obtains from date palm and Total annual income.

Figure: Annual income sources from households

4.18 PROBLEMS:

v Insect attacks the Date palms and no Technical support to prevent these problems.

v Low price of the products due to poor marketing systems.

v Lack of enough land for plantation

v Lack of good quality seedlings

v Low production of juice

v They use only indigenous Technology for tapping juice.