Chemical-free date juice molasses attracts buyers

Chemical-free molasses prepared from date juice at Bhatibari village of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila attracts buyers from different areas during the ongoing peak season.

"Every morning I and five others collect juice from 135 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," said Nazrul Islam, a molasses producer. 

Forty to forty-five kg of molasses from 450 to 500 kg of juice is produced and a kg of chemical-free molasses sells at Tk 80.

Although a kg of date molasses is selling between Tk 60 to 65 in the local market, we buy the chemical-free molasses from village Bhatibari at a high rate as it is good for health, said Hamid Miah, a molasses trader at BDR Haat market in Lalmonirhat Sadar.

"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 Taherul Islam.

"We get three to four kg of juice from a date tree and 10 to 11 kg of juice is needed for making one kg of molasses. After meeting up all the cost, our earning stands at Tk 1800 to 2000 daily," said another molasses producer Nabir Ali.

Chittaranjon Roy, a farmer of Bhatibari village, said he has leased his 22 date trees to a few people who are producing chemical-free molasses in the village.

"I get Tk 1200 against each date tree. I also get two kg of molasses every week," he said.

Local resident Mahabbat Ali said they are happy to get chemical-free quality molasses although the price is a bit higher.

"I and many others from Lalmonirhat town come to the village for purchasing chemical-free molasses from date juice. The molasses available in the market, whether produced from date juice or sugarcane, are often mixed with chemicals and so, harmful for health," said Gour Gopal Saha, a resident of Adarsha Para in Lalmonirhat town.

Appreciating the initiative, Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila Sanitary Inspector Abdur Rashid said, chemical-free molasses is good for health, especially for the children.