Chemical-free molasses attracts buyers in Rajshahi

Chemical-free molasses prepared from date juice at Puthia upazila of the district attracts buyers from different areas during the ongoing peak season.

However; Baneswar Haat under Puthia upazila in Rajshahi is the biggest molasses market of the district. Every haat day of previous years, 120 metric-tons molasses exported to all areas of the country along Dhaka from here. But, due to favorable of this year the number has increased 160 metric-tons on every haat day.
Abdul Karim, a molasses businessman of Baneswar haat, said every day the production of date-juice molasses are being increase in average 30 to 40 tons than last year. He said, every haat day of Baneswar, per kilogram of molasses is being sold at Tk. 75 to 85 in wholesale.
Hamidul Islam, a molasses producer, informed that last year, the price of date-juice molasses was nearly same like this year. But, last year the production cost low so they were benefited. Due to production cost increase of molasses, the farmers and businessmen are worried for their profit, this year.
“Every morning I and five others collect juice from 110 date trees leased from 10 farmers of the village on seasonal contract. We prepare chemical-free molasses in presence of people and sell it on the spot daily. However; forty to forty-five kg of molasses from 450 to 500 kg of juice is being produced and a kg of chemical-free molasses sells at Tk. 80”, Islam said. 
Meanwhile, one kg of date molasses is selling between Tk. 60 to 65 in the local market, we buy the chemical-free molasses from Jhalmalia village at a high rate as it is good for health, he added.
"We dare not mix chemicals with molasses from the date juice as many people watch the preparation process. We sell the item for a bit higher than the usual market price," said molasses producer Hekmot Ali. However; Ali alleged that some dishonest seasonal molasses businessmen of the area producing molasses by mixing sugar, old molasses, artificial colour, flour and harmful Hairdos chemical. However; after that they are selling those molasses at a low price than us. 
He further said, those dishonest molasses businessmen manufacturing per kg of molasses only cost of Tk. 40 to 45 by using adulterated ingredients and it sail by Tk. 75 to 80 per kg. That is why; we do not compete with them, Ali added. 
However; Nuruzzaman; UNO of Puthia Upazila, said the upazila administration conducted mobile court against dishonest businessmen as a part of routing work. But if anyone complaint to him about this particular matter the local administration of Puthia will take action immediately, he assured.  
According of Puthia Upazila Agriculture officer Manjur Rahman, there are 42,500 date-trees across the 285 hectors of land in Puthia. He said, on average at least 350 metric ton date juice molasses is being producing every season. And those molasses exported to all areas of the country along Dhaka, Rahman added.

Chemical-free molasses attracts buyers in Rajshahi

Chemical-free molasses prepared from date juice at Puthia upazila of the district attracts buyers from different areas during the ongoing peak season. However; Baneswar Haat under Puthia upazila in Rajshahi is the biggest molasses market of the district. Every haat day of previous years, 120 metric-tons molasses exported to all areas of the country along Dhaka from here. But, due to favorable of this year the number has increased 160 metric-tons on every haat day. Abdul Karim, a molasses businessman of Baneswar haat, said every day the production of date-juice molasses are being increase in average 30 to 40 tons than last year. He said, every haat day of Baneswar, per kilogram of molasses is being sold at Tk. 75 to 85 in wholesale. Hamidul Islam, a molasses producer, informed that last year, the price of date-juice molasses was nearly same like this year. But, last year the production cost low so they were benefited. Due to production cost increase of molasses, the farmers and businessmen are worried for their profit, this year. Every morning I and five others collect juice from 110 date trees leased from 10 farmers of the village on seasonal contract. We prepare chemical-free molasses in presence of people and sell it on the spot daily. However; forty to forty-five kg of molasses from 450 to 500 kg of juice is being produced and a kg of chemical-free molasses sells at Tk. 80, Islam said. Meanwhile, one kg of date molasses is selling between Tk. 60 to 65 in the local market, we buy the chemical-free molasses from Jhalmalia village at a high rate as it is good for health, he added. We dare not mix chemicals with molasses from the date juice as many people watch the preparation process. We sell the item for a bit higher than the usual market price, said molasses producer Hekmot Ali. However; Ali alleged that some dishonest seasonal molasses businessmen of the area producing molasses by mixing sugar, old molasses, artificial colour, flour and harmful Hairdos chemical. However; after that they are selling those molasses at a low price than us. He further said, those dishonest molasses businessmen manufacturing per kg of molasses only cost of Tk. 40 to 45 by using adulterated ingredients and it sail by Tk. 75 to 80 per kg. That is why; we do not compete with them, Ali added. However; Nuruzzaman; UNO of Puthia Upazila, said the upazila administration conducted mobile court against dishonest businessmen as a part of routing work. But if anyone complaint to him about this particular matter the local administration of Puthia will take action immediately, he assured. According of Puthia Upazila Agriculture officer Manjur Rahman, there are 42,500 date-trees across the 285 hectors of land in Puthia. He said, on average at least 350 metric ton date juice molasses is being producing every season. And those molasses exported to all areas of the country along Dhaka, Rahman added.