Traditional utilization of wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris) in rural Bangladesh: an approach to sustainable biodiversity management

Abstract

A study was conducted to explore the traditional utilization pattern and indigenous management practices of wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) in the rural agrarian regions of Bangladesh. A multistage sampling method with 10% intensity and a semi-structured questionnaire were used for the study. The farmers manage the palm mainly for sap production with which sugar based secondary goods are manufactured. The sap is either used fresh as drink or after some sort of processing as molasses and/or alcoholic beverage. Seven diversified sites support the palm as its habitat and most palms (20.40%) occur in orchards. Besides growing naturally, the palm is also established in orchards using the wildings as the staple planting material. Although the medium category farmers own most of the palms (33%), a considerable portion (28.68%) of it is managed by the landless farmers, who earn a substantial livelihood from the palms. The farmers practice their own indigenous wisdom in every stage of the palm’s maintenance from planting through tapping for sap collection to the processing of products. If managed more scientifically on a sustainable basis with the collaboration of farmers’ indigenous knowledge, this familiar palm could be able to support the rural economy of the country to a great extent. Side by side, it would also be able to contribute to the richness of biodiversity in the region.

Keywords

Bangladesh / indigenous knowledge / molasses / Khejur palm / sap / tapping

References

[1] Abedin Z, Aktar S, Haque F, Alam S. 1987. Uses of multipurpose trees on the small farms of the low-rainfall Ganges floodplain soils of Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of an international workshop held in Pataya, Thailand, November 2–5 1987. Pp. 31–47.

[2] Abedin M.Z., Quddus M.A. Mellink W., Rao Y.S., McDickens K.G. Agroforestry system in Bangladesh with particular reference to economics and tenurial issues Agroforestry in Asia and the Pacific, 1991 Bangkok, Thailand:.: FAO and Winrock International 13-33.

[3] Ahmed F.U. Traditional agroforestry systems in Bangladesh Agroforestry Newsletter, 1995, 3: 6-9.

[4] Ahmed R. Islam S. Chauadanga district, 2004 Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Nimtali, Ramna, Dhaka, Bangladesh

[5] Ahmed B. 2007. Research on the production of natural vinegar from date palm juice. Available at http://www.rib-bangladesh.org/vinegar_research.php. Last visited 18 Oct 2007.

[6] Anonymous. Encyclopedia of agricultural science, Vol-4, 2000 New Delhi, India: Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.

[7] Annett H.E. The date sugar industry in Bengal: An investigation into its chemistry and agriculture. Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, India Chemical Series II, 1913, 6: 281-389.

[8] BBS Statistical yearbook of Bangladesh, 1997 Dhaka, Bangladesh: Ministry of Planning: Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh

[9] Bhuiyan M.K. Impact of social forestry practices Paper presented at a national workshop on social forestry and community development held on October 5–10, 1991, 1991 Chittagong, Bangladesh: Institute of Forestry, Chittagong University

[10] BIOPACT. 2007. Omani biofuel project involves tapping date palm-a closer look. BIOPACT-Towards a green energy pact between Europe and Africa. Friday, June 29, 2007.

[11] Blatter E.B. The palms of British India and Ceylon, 1978 Dehra Dun, India: International Book Distributors

[12] Dalibard C. 2007. The potential of tapping palm trees for animal production. Available at http://www.fao.org/AG/AGAINFO/resources/documents/frg/conf96htm/dalibard.htm. Last visited 25 Oct 2007.

[13] Darby J., Ghaliongui P., Grivetti L. Food: The gift of Osiris Vol-2, 1977 London, United Kingdom: Academic Press

[14] Dowson V.H.W. Date production and protection, 1982 Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations

[15] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2007. Date palm sap. Available at http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/Y4360I/y4360e03.htm. Last visited 18 Oct 2007.

[16] GOB The fifth five-year plan (1995–2000), 1995 Dhaka, Bangladesh: Planning Commission: Ministry of Planning, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh

[17] Griffith W. 1850. Palms of British East India Company.

[18] Hodel D.R., Pittenger D.R. Studies on the establishment of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) offshoots. Part I. Observations on root development and leaf growth Palms, 2003, 47(4): 201-205.

[19] Hussain MD. 2001. Harvesting sap from date palm and palmyra palm in Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of the second international conference on date palms held at United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE on March 25–27 2001. Available at http://www.pubhort.org/datepalm; Serial No. 108. Last visited 25 Oct 2007.)

[20] Islam A. 2002. Khejur (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) husbandry and its socio-economic impacts in Mirsarai Upazilla, Chittagong. Chittagong, Bangladesh: A Project Paper. Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, 86p.

[21] Islam A., Miah M.D. Distribution and productivity of Khejur (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) in the villages of Chittagong region, Bangladesh International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 2003, 4(1): 49-54.

[22] Islam A., Miah M.D. Date palm husbandry in a selected area of Bangladesh: A study of marketing and income generation Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 2004, 29(3): 497-500.

[23] James C.M. Palms of the world, 1980 New York, USA: Harper and Brothers 164-218.

[24] Johnson DV. 1995. Palm conservation: its antecedents, status and needs. Paper presented at the World Palm Symposium at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden on October 20–21 1995.

[25] Johnson D.V. Palms: Their conservation and sustained utilization, 1996 United Kingdom: IUCN Publications Services Unit

[26] Kamaluddin M., Nath T.K., Jashimuddin M. Indigenous practice of khejur palm (Phoenix sylvestris) husbandry in rural Bangladesh Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 1996, 10(3): 357-366.

[27] Mishra R.M., Singh S.K. Dispersal ecology of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb Environment and Ecology, 1989, 7: 235-245.

[28] Naidu S.J., Misra M.K. Production and consumption of wild date palm sap and country liquor in two tribal village ecosystems of Eastern Ghats of Orissa, India Bioresources Technology, 1998, 63(30): 267-273.

[29] Rashid H.R. Geography of Bangladesh, 1991 Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited

[30] Teklehaimanot Z., Mustafa M.M., Hall J.B. Farmers’ ecological knowledge about homegarden production system in Bangladesh Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 2001, 11(1): 67-79.

[31] Zaid A. Date palm cultivation FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 156, 1999 Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations