Palm juice quenches the thirst of passers-by, additional income for gardeners

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Driver Akbar Sheikh (60) was returning from Baliakandi to Banibah area of ​​Rajbari along with his wife and son with a van loaded with chalk. On the way, seeing palm juice being sold on the roadside, the van stopped to quench the thirst. After drinking a glass of juice, he also fed his wife and children.

Akbar Sheikh said, while transporting goods on this route, if he gets thirsty in the heat, he sometimes drinks palm juice on the side of the road. It relieves fatigue a lot. Like him, many other pedestrians and vehicle drivers seek relief from palm juice on the road this summer.

Recently, at least 10 to 12 people were seen selling palm juice in an area of ​​about six kilometers from Banibah to Baharpur on the Rajbari to Baliakandi road. Some collect the sap from the trees themselves, while others buy and sell it from the trees. Many are selling juice by sitting in front of their house. As they are getting additional income, the pedestrians are also getting relief.

According to local people, there are thousands of palm trees in this area. Alamin Mallik (45), a resident of Bashupara in Banibah Union, said that all his ancestors, including his father Ramzan Mallik, were Gachis. He also started selling palm juice from last Ramadan. Drink two pots of juice daily from two palm trees of a local man. Daily income from selling these juices is 1 thousand to 1 thousand 200 taka.

Alamin said that it takes about 200 taka of chalk to make molasses with a pot of juice. After burning for a long time, one kg of jaggery is obtained, which is sold for Tk 400 to Tk 500. But raw juice can be sold for 400 to 600 taka per pot without much cost. Even after meeting the daily expenses of a five-member family, there is a saving of Tk 400 to Tk 500 per day.

Pedestrian Shiuli Begum said, sometimes eat palm juice while traveling through this road. Last Wednesday, while taking the son along, everyone in the family had a glass of juice together. This juice is very soothing to the body in summer.

Abdul Wahab Molla (60) was selling juice by sitting on the roadside in Raipur area of ​​Baharpur Union in Baliakandi. He said that he has been collecting palm juice for about 10 years. Three pots of juice are obtained daily from his three trees. Each pot holds 20 to 22 glasses of juice. After meeting the needs of the family, he sold the rest of the juice at the rate of Tk. 20 per glass.

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Wahab Molla said that many people travel through Rajbari-Baliakandi road every day. Many stop the car on the way and drink juice. In the morning and in the afternoon he sits with juice, sometimes sells it in the market. Since selling raw juice is more profitable than making molasses, many trees are now selling juice on the streets.

Zakaria Mandal, marketing officer of an organization, said after drinking two glasses of juice, now the quality of the juice is also good. There are lots of palm trees in this area. At least 15 to 20 people sell juice in an area of ​​only five to six kilometers. Many like him drink palm juice after stopping the journey.

Old Azgar Ali and his wife were selling juice in two plastic jars sitting in front of their house near Banibah Bazar. Azgar Ali said, they have eight palm trees of their own. For six-seven years he collected the sap from the trees himself. After the son and daughter got married, the two started selling juice sitting in front of the house. They are getting an extra income of 150 to 2000 taka by selling 30 to 40 liters of tamarind juice on an average every day.

Eight palm trees planted by him stand in a row on the roadside in front of Azgar Ali’s house. A long bamboo pole is tied to a tree, with a thick rope hanging from it. A bamboo connection is also kept for traveling from one tree to another tree by climbing the bamboo. The sap collects in a pot covered with a net on the top of the tree. He then collects in plastic jars. Later, he tied the jar down with a rope and put it on the table on the roadside and sold it.

In this regard, Civil Surgeon of Rajbari SM Masud told Prothom Alo that there is usually no health risk if juice is collected and stored in clean pots or containers. However, if this juice is processed to make tadi or something intoxicating, it can be harmful to health. He said that there was no report of getting sick anywhere in the district after drinking palm juice. Still, the upazila health departments have been asked to be careful about this.