Ant Egg Harvesting Emerges as Lucrative Livelihood in Bangladesh Forest Communities
For eight years, Swapan Chandra Barman has spent his dawn hours deep within the Sal forests of Sreepur, Gazipur, his eyes fixed on the treetops. Armed with a long bamboo pole tipped with a custom-made net, the 40-year-old local resident harvests red ant eggs—a niche, traditional trade that has become the sole source of income for his five-member household.
Known locally as "maijal" eggs, this harvest is highly sought after by angling enthusiasts, who prize the white, pearl-like eggs as premier fish bait. The trade is as delicate as it is industrious; Barman uses a specially designed mesh that allows only the eggs to fall through, ensuring that dead leaves and the biting ants themselves remain in the tree. By rhythmically nudging the nests nestled in the canopy, he forces the eggs to tumble into his collection bag.
The economics of the trade fluctuate significantly with the seasons. While Barman typically earns between 600 and 800 taka per kilogram for most of the year, the demand spikes sharply during the monsoon months of June, July, and August. During this peak period, prices climb as high as 3,000 taka per kilogram. Working five to six days a week, Barman can collect between 500 grams to 1.5 kilograms of eggs daily, netting him a monthly income that can reach 40,000 taka during the height of the season.
This practice is deeply rooted in the history of the Bhawal forest region. Ahammadul Kabir, head of the Bengali department at Pear Ali College, notes that harvesting these eggs is a long-standing local tradition. The ants skillfully weave the resilient Sal leaves into complex nests, creating a sustainable, albeit labor-intensive, resource for the surrounding communities.
Barman is far from alone in this endeavor. At least 20 to 25 other residents in his village have adopted the trade, turning the vast, forested landscape of Gazipur into a vital workplace. While the profession remains largely obscure to the outside world, for the villagers of Sreepur, it represents a unique and resilient struggle for livelihood, transforming the wild, dense woods into an essential economic lifeline.
