Papers

Chapter-vi

Market Survey

Market is an area over which buyers and sellers bargain the exchange of a well-defined commodity (Richards, 1987: Market and marketing of products). Types of marketable products differ from place to place. Since the Sylhet town is adjacent to the North Sylhet Range-1, its markets for forest products highly influence the forest management. Forests and various forest products still play a vital role in the life and livelihoods of most developing countries particularly in forest neighboring areas. Trading (i.e., collection and selling) of these forest products provide major income and employment opportunity to majority of the people living in or near such areas. This is as well one of the major revenue source to Forest Department since they earn a substantial amount of money through auction of such products. Information regarding market dynamics is therefore essential to manage the forest soundly. That is why we have surveyed different market places- namely Sheikh Ghat, Bondor Bazar, Tilagor, Khadimnagar, South Surma, Amberkhana, Eidgah, Subid Bazar and Temukhi of the Sylhet town.

MAJOR FINDINGS

6.1. Timber market survey

Table 8.1 lists the price and sources of some popular sawn timber and round timber species of the study area.

Table: 6.1 Price variation and sources of various timber species

Name of the Species	Scientific name	Purchasing price in tk.(Round timber)/CFT	Selling price in tk. (Sawn timber)/CFT	Sources
Aam	Mangifera indica	150-200	200-250	Sylhet/North Bengal
Akashmoni	Acacia auriculiformis	800-1000	1200-1500	Sylhet
Burma Teak	Tectona grandis	2000-2500	3500-4500	Burma
Chambul		200-250	350-400	North Bengal
Champa	Michelia champaca	1000-1200	1400-1600	Chittagong/Sylhet
Chickrashi	Chickrassia tabularis	1000-1200	1400-1600	Chittagong/Sylhet
Dhakijam	Syzygium grande	400-500	500-600	Sylhet
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus camaldulensis	400-500	600-700	Sylhet
Gamar	Gmelina arborea	600-700	1100-1200	Chittagong/Juri/Sylhet/ Kulaura
Garjan	Dipterocarpus turbinatus	500-600	900-1000	Sylhet/North Bengal
Ipil-ipil	Leucina leucocephala	100-150	200-220	Sylhet
Jam	Sygygium fruticosum	500-600	700-800	Sylhet
Jarul	Lagerstroemia speciosa	400-500	600-700	Sylhet
Kadam	Anthocephalus chinensis	150-200	200-250	Sylhet/North Bengal
Kala Koroi	Albizia lebbeck	400-500	600-700	North Bengal
Kanthal	Artocarpus heterophylus	800-1000	1200-1500	Sylhet/North Bengal
Kuma	Adina sessilifolia	200-300	300-400	Sylhet
Loha kath	Xylia dolabriformis	1800-2000	2500-3000	Chittagong
Mahagoni	Swietenia mahagani	500-600	800-900	North Bengal
Mangium	Acacia mangium	300-400	400-500	Sylhet/North Bengal
Neem	Azadirachta indica	500-600	700-800	Sylhet
Raintree	Samania saman	250-350	400-500	Sylhet/North Bengal
Sal	Shorea robusta	1000-1200	1400-1600	Sylhet/North Bengal
Shegun	Tectona grandis	1500-2000	2500-3500	Chittagong/Juri/ Vanugach
Sil Koroi	Albizia procera	600-700	1200-1400	Sylhet
Simul	Bombex ceiba	150-200	200-250	Sylhet/North Bengal
Sundi		1200-1400	1800-2200	Chittagong

We found a large variety of timber species from the market survey of Sylhet Town. These timber species mostly come from surrounding Forest and village as well as northern part of the country. The price of the timber species varied from their size, age, physical condition and maturity within a species. At the table (6.1) mostly mature or commercial sized species are showed including their market price. Here, we found most precious species is Burma Teak and the lowest priced species is Ipil-Ipil. At sawmill round timber, collected from the auction of FD and village forest, is sold in a certain price but when it is converted into sawn timber, its selling price is increased.

Marketing channel:

FD’s auction à Sawmills à Consumers

Local stand à Sawmills à Consumer

Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw mills à Consumer

Imported timber à Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw millsàConsumer

6.2 Fuelwood market survey

We have conducted fuelwood market survey in Sheikh Ghat, Bondor Bazar, Tilagor, Khadimnagar, South Surma, Amberkhana, Eidgah, Subid Bazar and Temukhi in the Sylhet town. The survey revealed that, the income of the fuelwood collectors varies between seasons to season. The major fuelwood species found in the market are given in Table 6.2.1 and Table 6.2.2.

Table: 6.2.1. Major Fuelwood species with respective prices and sources

Serial No	Name of the Species	Scientific Name	Purchasing Price in tk./mound	Selling Price in tk./mound	Sources
01	Aam	Mangifera indica	130	160	Tila Gorh Eco-Park
06	Akashmoni	Acacia auriculiformis	150	180	Sawmill
08	Gamar	Gmelina arborea	150	180	Sawmill
04	Jam	Sygygium spp	120	150	Homestead
07	Kanthal	Artocarpus heterophylus	150	180	Homestead
03	Koroi	Albizia Spp	170	200	Surroundings
02	Raintree	Samania saman	150	180	Sawmill
09	Rubber	Hevea braziliensis	140	160	Rubber Garden
05	Shegun	Tectona grandis	170	220	Sawmill

Fuel wood market survey in the Sylhet Town shows the result that there are mainly two kinds of fuel at the market. One is the branches of the trees and another is the off sized wood comes from the sawing of timber. Both fuel woods are equally demandable by the consumer. All fuel woods come from surroundings and near by forest. All off sized timber comes from sawmill.

Marketing channel:

Local stand à Sawmills à Consumer

Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw mills à Consumer

Imported timber à Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw millsàConsumer

Table: 6.2.2. Major fuels with respective price and sources (Others)

Serial No	Name of the Fuel	Unit	Purchasing Price in Tk.	Selling Price in Tk.	Sources
01	Wood residues	Mound		100-150	Sawmill
02	Bamboo	Bundle	15	20	Forest
03	Saw Dust	Mound	50	80	Sawmill
04	Chasni	Mound		150	By product of Furniture

***Chasni: It is the furniture residue comes from the indigenous treatment on sawn timber to make its surface smoother.

This table contains the fuels comes as a by product from different activities to make various product with the timber or bamboo. Among them wood residue and saw dust are the most popular fuel to produce energy.

Marketing channel:

Local stand à Sawmills à Fuel wood seller à Consumer

Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw mills à Fuel wood seller à Consumer

Imported timber à Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw millsà Fuel wood seller à Consumer

6.3. Non-timber forest products (bamboo and medicinal plants) market survey:

Non-wood forest products (NTFPs) comprise all biological products derived from forest other than commercial timber. It was found that most of the marginal NTFPs collectors collect NTFPs from the nearby forest. Sometimes marginal NTFPs collectors sell NTFPs to large traders (Bepari). Table 8.3.1 describes the major NTFPs (Bamboo) of the study area with their corresponding prices and sources. In case of medicinal plant species most of the products were imported from India and Nepal. Table 8.3.2 shows the Price variation and sources of various medicinal plant species.

Table: 6.3.1. Price variation and sources of various bamboo species

Serial No.	Name of the Species	Scientific Name	Purchasing Price in tk./Piece	Selling price in tk./Piece	Sources
01	Muli Bansh	Melocanna baccifera	35	45	Juri, Srimongal, Kulaura, Golapgong
02	Mitinga	Bambusa tulda	10	13	North Akhalia
03	Jai Bansh		60	100	North Akhalia
04	Batu		40	70	North Akhalia
05	Kang		28	33	Hills of Sylhet

Bamboo is the most important non timber forest product found every where and bamboo is the most common species in every Forest of Sylhet Forest Division. A large variety of bamboo species found in Sylhet market with a variety of prices.

Table: 6.3.2. Price variation and sources of various medicinal plant species

Serial No	Name of the Species	Scientific Name	Purchasing Price in Tk./Kg	Selling Price in Tk./Kg	Sources
01	Amloki	Phyllanthus embelica	80	100	Local/India/Nepal
02	Horitoki	Terminalia chebula	25	32	Local/India/Nepal
03	Bohera	Terminalia belerica	22	32	Local/India/Nepal
04	Chirata	Swertia chirata	600	800	Local/India/Nepal
05	Jayfal	Croton tiglium	350	450	Imported
06	Bach	Acorus calamus	160	200	Local/India/Nepal
07	Ekangi	Curcuma zeodaria	140	200	Import
08	Birangi		290	350	Import
09	Ritha	Sapindus mukorossi	40	60	Local/India/Nepal
10	Bel	Aegle marmelos	90	120	Local/Import
11	Cham pata	Sapium baccatum	80	100	Import
12	Hat Kochla		90	100	Import
13	Gutu Kochla		100	140	Import
14	Jaitri	Myristaca fragrans	550	850	Import
15	Baro Elachi	Amomum subulatum	325	400	Import
16	Pipail		280	350	Import
17	Misty Ada	Zingiber officinale	100	160	Import
18	Tambul		100	150	Import
19	Atois		500	800	Import
20	Arjun	Terminalia arjuna	20	40	Forest/Homestead
21	Ghrito Kumari	Aloe barbadensis	30	60	Home Garden
22	Shato Muli	Asparagus recemosus	80	130	Home Garden
23	Jamal Gota		250	300	Forest
24	Bidogi		120	160	Import

Different ranges of medicinal plants were found in the forests of Sylhet forest division as well as the markets of Sylhet town. In the study, it is found that most of the medicinal plants are collected from the home gardens and local forest areas. Again, a number of sellers import the medicinal plants from the abroad. India and Nepal are the largest source in this purpose.

Marketing channel:

Local stand à Medicinal Product Seller à Consumer

Imported Medicinal Product à Medicinal Product Wholesaler/ Retailer à Medicinal Product Seller à Consumer

6.4. Furniture market survey:

Teak, Garjan, Acacia, Jam, Koroi, Kanthal were used for making furniture. Table 8.4. Shows the production cost and sell price of different furniture in Sylhet town.

Table 6.4 Price variation of different Furniture in Sylhet district

Serial No.	Name of Product		Unit	Selling Price	Consumer
01	Cot	Normal	Piece	7000-10000	Local People
		Box	Piece	12000-15000	Local People
02	Dressing Table		Set	8000-12000	Local People
03	Sofa		Set	16000	Local People
04	Ware Drop		Piece	13000	Local People
05	Showcase		Piece	7000-20000	Local People
06	Almira		Piece	18000	Local People
07	Door		Piece	4500-7000	Local People
08	Window		Piece	3500-6000	Local People
09	Dining Set		Set	18000	Local People
10	Alna		Piece	1000-2000	Local People
NTFP Produces
01	Kholoi		Piece	30-35	Local People
02	Basket		Piece	20	Local People
03	Pakha		Piece	20	Local People
04	Mat		Piece	25	Local People
05	Belloon		Piece	30	Local People
06	Dhala		Piece	25	Local People
07	Ghutuni		Piece	15	Local People

Different wooden furniture’s and non-wooden furniture’s are available in the local furniture markets of Sylhet town. Different types of furniture’s are available in those markets. The study revealed that most of the furniture’s sold are the regular household furniture’s. However, there are some commercial users of these products but most of the consumers are the peoples of surrounding locality. It is to be carefully observed that a notable amount of NTFP produces and their furniture’s are in a good demand in the local markets of Sylhet region.

Marketing channel:

Local stand à Sawmills à Furniture Shops à Consumer

Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw mills à Furniture Shops à Consumer

Imported timber à Timber Wholesaler/ Retailer à Saw millsà Furniture Shops à Consumer

6.5. Wildlife market Survey:

. It was found that most of the wild lives were collected from the adjacent forest areas. Table8.5. describes the Price variation and sources of different Wildlife in the study area.

Table 6.5.: Price variation and sources of different Wildlife in Sylhet district

Serial No.	Name of the Species	Unit	Purchasing Price in Tk.	Selling Price in Tk.	Sources
01	Parrot	Pair	300	500	Khadimnagar Forest
02	Shalik	Piece	Hunted	300	Forest/Homested
03	Bok	Pair	100	200	Haor
04	Moyna	Piece	Hunted	5000	Forest

From the survey from the wild life market, it was revealed that only a few birds’ species are common in the market of the Sylhet town. The sources for the collection of these species are the homesteads and the local forests of Sylhet region. It is notable that various Haors around the greater Sylhet region is another important source for collecting these birds.

Marketing channel:

Local stand (Forest/Haor) à Hunter à Wild life Retailers à Consumer

Local stand (Forest/Haor) à Hunter à Wild life Whole Seller/Retailer à Wild life Retailers à Consumer