Agar changes fortune of farmers in Sylhet

Agar farming is now changing the fortune of many people living in the hilly areas of Sylhet.

More than 50,000 people are now earning their livelihood from this lucrative sector. Being a profitable form of farming, it is also contributing to reducing poverty sources said.

Farmers are now cultivating agar on a commercial basis in regions like Fenchuganj, Beanibazar, Golapganj and Sadar of Sylhet and Rajnagar, Kulaura, Komolganj, Srimangal and Barlekha of Moulvibazar district.

The Barlekha upazila is one of the pioneers for growing agar, and the Sujanagar union is well known at home and abroad for it.

About 1,000 families in the villages of Sujanagar earn a living by working in the agar factories set up in their homes and around. Some more villages involved in the same work include Saldigha, Bartal, Uttar Sujanagar, Dakshin Sujanagar, Tangortoli and Rafinagar.

Agar is used for making different liquid products, including fragrances, golapjal (rose water), agar bati (incense) and different types of creams.

People of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and Iraq and other Arab countries are the main consumers of such products, exporters said.

They also said that the demand for such Bangladeshi products is also growing  among the people of other countries of the globe like Malaysia, Singapore, UK and the EU countries and even in the USA.

According to exporters, non-resident Bangladeshis and Muslim communities of the importing countries are the main customers of Agar products. Besides, non-Muslims have also started using Agar fragrances recently.

During the holly month of Ramadan and other Muslim festivals, demand of Agar-made products suddenly rises.

Presently, there are around 145 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 currency 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, an exporter said.

He 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," another exporter said.