BSS, Rangamati :
Farming of vegetables and fruits has changed the life style of the ethnic people at Pharua, a small hamlet surrounded by hillocks and Kaptai Lake under Bilaichhari upazila of the district.
In the past, the people of this locality, majority of them are have-nots somehow used to survive by cultivating jhum and planting teak for the forest department.
They could not produce any kind of vegetable and fruit because of the restriction imposed by the forest department on their production.
But cultivation of ginger, turmeric, banana and different varieties of fruit following lifting of the ban on their production has opened a window of new opportunities to improve their standard of living.
Vegetables and fruits they produce now find ways to different markets at upazila and district headquarters as well as Kaptai.
Sale proceeds of these products help them to meet many demands of their life.
Talking to BSS, some ethnic people of the apparent detached habitat said construction of two roads to link Pharua with Bilaichhari and Razasthali upazila headquarters would greatly expand the markets of their vegetables and fruits and fetch fair prices.
They pointed out that water route from Pharua to upwards remain navigable for six months a year. Former chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, Rabindra Lal Chakma Suzan, also a traditional leader, a resident of Bilaichhari echoed the same.
They said the government should pay attention soon to peoples’ demand to facilitate them to live a better life.
The villagers supply their products to the upazila headquarters and other places by water route during this period.
Pharua, located at the heart of the Raingkhiong reserved forests and inhabited by about 20,000 people, can play a vital role in meeting the vegetable demand of the district, if communication network could be developed, demanded by the locals.
