Rangpur Correspondent :
The date extractors (gachhi) at different areas under the district are passing busy time preparing date trees with much enthusiasm and vigour for collecting sweet and delicious juice.
At present the extractors locally called ‘gachhi’ are giving their best effort to make date trees ready for extracting juice which is expected to gain momentum next month.
Rahidul Mia, a gachhi at Dangapara village of Taraganj upazila, told T N N he and other gachhis of his area and his adjacent areas get much busy during this time of the year in order to trim the date trees for collecting juice. He said the season always brings fortune for them. The gachchis are engaged by the orchard owners on the basis of either sharing of the collected juice or cash payment, he further said.
Some Gachhis of Taraganj, Badarganj, Kawnia and Mithapukur upazila under the district said last year they earned Tk 150 to Tk 200 a day by selling date juice . Per glass juice was sold between Tk 5 to Tk 10. Many people of the region earn their living by collecting and selling date juice and thus maintain their families. Date juice is also used for making date molasses that is very popular in the region as various kinds of cakes are made from it, they added.
The gachhis alleged that the number of date trees have been declining alarmingly in recent times which is affecting their business a lot.
