Badrul Ahsan :
Farming of Agar, a fragrant plant, is changing the lifestyle of many people of at least ten districts of Sylhet region as demand for the products has gradually been increasing in the international market, according to exporters.
People in Middle East and other Arab countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and Iraq are the main consumers of the perfumery item, exporters said.
According to exporters, non-resident Bangladeshis and Muslim communities of the importing countries are also major customers of Agar products.
They also said that the demand for such Bangladeshi products is also gaining popularity among the people of other countries of the globe like Malaysia, Singapore, UK and EU countries and even in the USA.
Agar is used for making different liquid products, including fragrances, golapjal (rose water), agar bati (incense) and different types of creams.
Industry insiders said the agar farming is changing the economic landscape of the hilly areas of Sylhet and at least 40,000 people are now earning their livelihood from this rising sector.
During the holly month of Ramadan and other Muslim festivals, Agar- made products gains high demand.
Presently, there are around 135 Agar processing factories in the country the number of which was less than one hundred a few years ago.
According to government data, the highly labour intensive Agar factories have contributed around Tk 30 crore equivalent foreign currencies to national GDP last financial year.
Agar products are gaining over 30 per cent export growth for the last couple of years, data showed.
Following the increasing demand, many people in the hilly areas are now undertaking farming of the rare tree on a commercial basis.
“With hard work and determination, we have established the Bangladeshi Agar products in different international destinations. The demand for such products have been increasing gradually, especially in the gulf countries, Salam Al Din, an exporter told The New Nation Saturday.
Salam also said that despite huge potential, the Agar industry is facing numerous challenges like harassment by the law enforcers during transportation, absence of marketing facilities, shortage of funds and lack of maintenance.
“Patronization of Agar farming and export would largely contribute to reducing poverty in the hilly areas,” he added.
“With necessary support including cash incentive, export of Agar- made products might increase many folds within a short period,” Abu Hena, another exporter said.
However, the government few years ago has included Agar in the 12 item list of one district one product (ODOP) initiative although the activity of the initiative did not see any significant progress till now.
“Although the activity of the initiative is slow, we are hopeful about the fate of the item. We are still committing research and development (R&D) work on the items. We will provide all sorts of supports to the sector,” a director of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) told the New Nation preferring anonymity.
Farming of Agar, a fragrant plant, is changing the lifestyle of many people of at least ten districts of Sylhet region as demand for the products has gradually been increasing in the international market, according to exporters.
People in Middle East and other Arab countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and Iraq are the main consumers of the perfumery item, exporters said.
According to exporters, non-resident Bangladeshis and Muslim communities of the importing countries are also major customers of Agar products.
They also said that the demand for such Bangladeshi products is also gaining popularity among the people of other countries of the globe like Malaysia, Singapore, UK and EU countries and even in the USA.
Agar is used for making different liquid products, including fragrances, golapjal (rose water), agar bati (incense) and different types of creams.
Industry insiders said the agar farming is changing the economic landscape of the hilly areas of Sylhet and at least 40,000 people are now earning their livelihood from this rising sector.
During the holly month of Ramadan and other Muslim festivals, Agar- made products gains high demand.
Presently, there are around 135 Agar processing factories in the country the number of which was less than one hundred a few years ago.
According to government data, the highly labour intensive Agar factories have contributed around Tk 30 crore equivalent foreign currencies to national GDP last financial year.
Agar products are gaining over 30 per cent export growth for the last couple of years, data showed.
Following the increasing demand, many people in the hilly areas are now undertaking farming of the rare tree on a commercial basis.
“With hard work and determination, we have established the Bangladeshi Agar products in different international destinations. The demand for such products have been increasing gradually, especially in the gulf countries, Salam Al Din, an exporter told The New Nation Saturday.
Salam also said that despite huge potential, the Agar industry is facing numerous challenges like harassment by the law enforcers during transportation, absence of marketing facilities, shortage of funds and lack of maintenance.
“Patronization of Agar farming and export would largely contribute to reducing poverty in the hilly areas,” he added.
“With necessary support including cash incentive, export of Agar- made products might increase many folds within a short period,” Abu Hena, another exporter said.
However, the government few years ago has included Agar in the 12 item list of one district one product (ODOP) initiative although the activity of the initiative did not see any significant progress till now.
“Although the activity of the initiative is slow, we are hopeful about the fate of the item. We are still committing research and development (R&D) work on the items. We will provide all sorts of supports to the sector,” a director of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) told the New Nation preferring anonymity.
