Tue Dec 6, 2022 11:00 AM Last replace on: Tue Dec 6, 2022 11:00 AM
Trucks loaded with kans grass, domestically often known as kashful, are seen heading out of the Moghalhat space in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila. As the plant grows naturally on sandy soil, char farmers within the area incur few enter prices whereas incomes massive by promoting it to betel leaf growers. PHOTO: S DILIP ROY”>
Trucks loaded with kans grass, domestically often known as kashful, are seen heading out of the Moghalhat space in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila. As the plant grows naturally on sandy soil, char farmers within the area incur few enter prices whereas incomes massive by promoting it to betel leaf growers. PHOTO: S DILIP ROY
Kans grass has emerged as a big supply of income for farmers in char areas of Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, the place the perennial herb native to the Indian subcontinent grows simply on sandy soil.
Naturally occurring on round 10,000 hectares of land throughout 150 chars on the Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers in six upazilas of the 2 districts, the one expense farmers want bear are these related to transport and labour. For all newest information, observe The Daily Star’s Google News channel.
Each bigha of land produces some 2,000 bundles of the straw-like materials, referred to as kashful in Bangladesh, with hundreds of farmers within the area now fetching as much as Tk 17 per bundle weighing round two kilogrammes.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) say that kans grass has helped deliver prosperity to char farmers in area as they will promote it alongside conventional crops.
Aftab Uddin, a farmer from Char Karai Barisal underneath Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila, stated he received 19,000 bundles of kashful from three acres of land this yr.
“I bought all of it for Tk 286,000 in an area market after having spent a complete of Tk 170,000 for harvesting and transporting the plant,” he added.
Uddin then stated kans grass has turn out to be a supply of passive income for farmers like him who’re unable to domesticate most different crops on the sandy soil of char lands.
“But kashful grows right here naturally and so, earnings from the plant assist us run our households properly,” he added.
Nader Ali, one other farmer from the identical char, advised The Daily Star he had gathered kans grass from six bighas of land final yr however this yr, he may solely gather from 4 bighas as a result of erosion.
Wholesalers from completely different elements of the nation, together with Rajshahi, Kushtia, Barguna, Meherpur, Chuadanga and Jessore come to purchase kashful from suppliers in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram.
“We are joyful to be promoting the plant at a good charge this yr,” Ali stated.
Dried kans grass is used to weave collectively thatch roofs and sheds which might be primarily makes use of by farmers to guard crops which might be delicate to extreme daylight or rain, comparable to betel leaf.
Jobed Ali, a farmer at Char Falimari on the Dharla river in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, stated that regardless that kashful manufacturing has been decrease this yr, they’re making sudden income because of the at the moment greater market costs.
Similarly, Sekendar Ali Mandal, a char farmer within the Sardob space of Dharla river in Kurigram sadar upazila, stated he expects good earnings from the kans grass grown on six bighas of his land, the place no different crops develop.
Kashful grows naturally within the char land between April and May earlier than being harvested in November.
“We didn’t get first rate costs for kashful simply 10 to 12 years in the past however now, patrons from completely different areas pay properly for the fabric,” he added.
Dildar Hossain, a wholesaler from Rajshahi who got here to Jorgachh Bazar in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, stated he buys kans grass from completely different farmers within the area earlier than delivery it to different elements of the nation by truck or boat.
“We are shopping for kashful from farmers at excessive costs after which promoting it to betel growers in varied districts,” he added.
Hossain went on to say that kashful costs are greater this yr because the demand has elevated amongst betel leaf growers.
“The marketplace for kans grass within the two districts is value as a lot as Tk 300 crore,” he stated.
Nur Hossain, a wholesaler at Moghalhat space in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, stated they generally pay char farmers prematurely for getting a provide of kashful contemplating the massive demand.
As such, the fabric is loaded onto as many as 80 vans from the Brahmaputra and Dharla river shoal areas day by day.
Also, some 35 boats are being loaded with kans grass for cargo day by day, he added.
Biplob Kumar Mohanta, deputy director of the DAE in Kurigram, stated native char farmers dream to earn massive by promoting kashful.
“The naturally rising grass is bringing solvency to many char folks,” he added.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWRhaWx5c3Rhci5uZXQvYnVzaW5lc3MvZWNvbm9teS9uZXdzL2thbnMtZ3Jhc3Mtc3RyYXctYm9vc3RzLWluY29tZS1jaGFyLWZhcm1lcnMtMzE4ODQwMdIBamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWRhaWx5c3Rhci5uZXQvYnVzaW5lc3MvZWNvbm9teS9uZXdzL2thbnMtZ3Jhc3Mtc3RyYXctYm9vc3RzLWluY29tZS1jaGFyLWZhcm1lcnMtMzE4ODQwMT9hbXA?oc=5
