Kishoreganj Correspondent :
Homemade cheese of Kishoreganj’s Austagram haor upazila has a great demand in local markets including all over the country. Famous for its unique flavour, the cheese from Austogram haor has often found its way to Bangabhaban, the official residence of President and Ganabhaban, – the Prime Minister (PM) Official residence.
Just like any other businesses, 15 to 18 families who make cheese as part of a legacy are facing Covid challenges. The sales, which amounted to more than Tk1 lakh a day before the pandemic, dipped 25%. Cheese makers are also in crisis of cash and facing limited supply of milk.
It takes 10 litres of milk to make 1kg of cheese and the whole process costs Tk550-600. The cheese is then sold at Tk 750 to Tk 800.Md. Nasim said his family has been in the business for generations and he had incurred losses due to the pandemic. He added that he used to sell around 15kgs of cheese a day, but now sales have come down to about 10kgs.
In South Asia, cheese was first introduced by the Mughals. Since then, it has become one of the core ingredients in South-Asian cuisine and is an integrated part of the tradition of Austagram haor.Unique in its flavour and consistency, cheese is known as cottage cheese. Paneer is a soft cheese that is white and tastes salty. Firoz Miah in Austagram said, It was increasingly becoming difficult to do the business that was hardly.
Cheese makers from Austagram sell it in different parts of the country. On special occasions, it is also supplied to Bangabhaban and Ganabhaban.Traders believe that Austagram’s cheese has huge export potential since the demand for cheese is high abroad, but without adequate government support, the potential will not be explored.
Local businessmen of Austagram and other stakeholders believe that to expand the business and reach its export potential, the sector is in dire need of adequate capital.One of them, Selim said that if there were local dairy firms, a steady supply of milk would have been easier to make cheese. But cheese makers do not have the capital to set up a dairy firm. Only government patronage can help this sector flourish,” Selim added. District Administration in Kishoreganj arranged at a advocacy meeting with local farmers, traders at Austagram Upazila Auditorium on Monday afternoon.
DC Mohammad Shamim Alam attended as chief guest and ADC(General) Nazmul Islam Sarker special guest while Austagram UNO Mehedi Islam presided over the programme. DC Mohammad Shamim Alam said that they are aware of the problems of the local cheese makers and we empathize with them. We are already working to find a solution.
