Jhalakathi Correspondent :
Day by day palm trees have decreased in Nalchiti. The charming sight of palm trees is no longer visible on rural roads. On the other hand even children do not know the taste of sweet date palm juice on a winter morning. And the clinking sound of the juice pot is not heard.
In the 80s and 90s, while walking along the Metho path of rural Bengal, you could see palm trees lined up on both sides. Although date palms were not planted in a planned way, the trees grew naturally without any care. At the beginning of winter in Nalchiti, the gachiris used to get busy in collecting the sweet juice of date palms. Even if the severity of winter did not start, the organization would start in full swing once. However, due to the use of palm trees in brick kilns and not planting new ones, the number of palm trees in Nalchiti is getting lost day by day.
Kushangal, Subidpur, Siddhakathi, Kulkathi, Dappia, Magar of Nalchiti upazila were once famous for date palm juice. Today is the day that is going to be lost in the change of time.
Even a few years ago, most of the houses in different areas had numerous palm trees along the farm aisles or on both sides of the road. These palm trees grow naturally without any maintenance. Delicious jaggery was made with extra juice to meet the needs of every family. Being very tasty, additional jaggery was supplied to various markets to meet the demand of the area. Currently, palm trees are no longer seen on the side of houses or farms or even on the side of the road.
Many used to make a living by collecting the juice of palm trees during the winter season. In the local language, this seasonal professional is called Shiali. Gachidis are named Sheali in the local language from various folk tales or stories of palm juice with jackals. Today, due to the dwindling number of palm trees, most of the gachis have left their male-dominated profession. However, only a handful still hold the profession.
The number of trees has decreased due to which sap is not collected even though there are trees.
Gachi Khalek of Charsubidpur village of the upazila said that Bengalis are attracted to certain foods based on season. We still have a weakness for palm sap. My father’s profession was to collect the sap of these palm trees. After his father’s death, he retained the profession. But as the number of palm trees is decreasing day by day, I see no other option but to leave the profession and join another profession.
Veronbaria Mohabbat Ali School and College senior teacher Mahbubur Rahman said. We forgot about palm trees. We should plant palm trees along with planting other trees. Otherwise, the date palm tree will become an unknown tree to the next generation. Conscious people think that the government or private institutions should come forward to encourage and increase awareness about the people of the village to plant more and more palm trees. Moreover, the amount of palm trees that we are cutting and burning in small logs every year, after a few years the juice of these palm trees will not be available.
Several gardeners in the remote areas of Nalchiti Upazila said that as soon as winter begins, the trees are first cleaned and prepared. After this the trees were cut and the misty sap was collected. Now we are supposed to be busy cleaning and cutting trees, but we are not busy. The reason given is that the amount of trees is very small and the juice is not as before.
Assistant Agriculture Officer Abul Hossain said that palm trees were not seen on the side of the homesteads or fields and even on the side of the road. Today, due to our ignorance, this environmentally important palm tree is on the verge of extinction. To solve this crisis of palm trees, we all have to come forward, increase public awareness and plant more and more palm trees as possible. In spite of this crisis of palm trees, the palm trees are still busy in Nalchiti upazila by cutting down the remaining trees and collecting sap. But after a few more days this winter juice festival will start in full swing.
