Abstract
A study was conducted to explore the traditional utilization pattern and indigenous management practices of wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) in the rural agrarian regions of Bangladesh. A multistage sampling method with 10% intensity and a semi-structured questionnaire were used for the study. The farmers manage the palm mainly for sap production with which sugar based secondary goods are manufactured. The sap is either used fresh as drink or after some sort of processing as molasses and/or alcoholic beverage. Seven diversified sites support the palm as its habitat and most palms (20.40%) occur in orchards. Besides growing naturally, the palm is also established in orchards using the wildings as the staple planting material. Although the medium category farmers own most of the palms (33%), a considerable portion (28.68%) of it is managed by the landless farmers, who earn a substantial livelihood from the palms. The farmers practice their own indigenous wisdom in every stage of the palm’s maintenance from planting through tapping for sap collection to the processing of products. If managed more scientifically on a sustainable basis with the collaboration of farmers’ indigenous knowledge, this familiar palm could be able to support the rural economy of the country to a great extent. Side by side, it would also be able to contribute to the richness of biodiversity in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abedin Z, Aktar S, Haque F, Alam S. 1987. Uses of multipurpose trees on the small farms of the low-rainfall Ganges floodplain soils of Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of an international workshop held in Pataya, Thailand, November 2–5 1987. Pp. 31–47.
Abedin MZ, Quddus MA. 1991. Agroforestry system in Bangladesh with particular reference to economics and tenurial issues. In: Mellink W, Rao YS, McDickens KG (eds.), Agroforestry in Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok, Thailand:. FAO and Winrock International, pp.13–33.
Ahmed FU. 1995. Traditional agroforestry systems in Bangladesh. Agroforestry Newsletter, 3: 6–9.
Ahmed R. 2004. Chauadanga district. In: Islam S (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Nimtali, Ramna, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Ahmed B. 2007. Research on the production of natural vinegar from date palm juice. Available at http://www.rib-bangladesh.org/vinegar_research.php. Last visited 18 Oct 2007.
Anonymous. 2000. Encyclopedia of agricultural science, Vol-4. New Delhi, India: Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.
Annett HE. 1913. The date sugar industry in Bengal: An investigation into its chemistry and agriculture. Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, India. Chemical Series II, 6: 281–389.
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). 1997. Statistical yearbook of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Ministry of Planning: Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh.
Bhuiyan MK. 1991. Impact of social forestry practices. Paper presented at a national workshop on social forestry and community development held on October 5–10, 1991. Institute of Forestry, Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
BIOPACT. 2007. Omani biofuel project involves tapping date palm-a closer look. BIOPACT-Towards a green energy pact between Europe and Africa. Friday, June 29, 2007.
Blatter EB. 1978. The palms of British India and Ceylon. Dehra Dun, India: International Book Distributors.
Dalibard C. 2007. The potential of tapping palm trees for animal production. Available at http://www.fao.org/AG/AGAINFO/resources/documents/frg/conf96htm/dalibard.htm . Last visited 25 Oct 2007.
Darby J, Ghaliongui P, Grivetti L. 1977. Food: The gift of Osiris Vol-2. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press.
Dowson VHW. 1982. Date production and protection. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 35. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). 2007. Date palm sap. Available at http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/Y4360I/y4360e03.htm. Last visited 18 Oct 2007.
GOB (Government of Bangladesh). 1995. The fifth five-year plan (1995–2000). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Planning Commission: Ministry of Planning, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh.
Griffith W. 1850. Palms of British East India Company.
Hodel DR, Pittenger DR. 2003. Studies on the establishment of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) offshoots. Part I. Observations on root development and leaf growth. Palms, 47(4): 201–205.
Hussain MD. 2001. Harvesting sap from date palm and palmyra palm in Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of the second international conference on date palms held at United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE on March 25–27 2001. Available at http://www.pubhort.org/datepalm ; Serial No. 108. Last visited 25 Oct 2007.)
Islam A. 2002. Khejur (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) husbandry and its socio-economic impacts in Mirsarai Upazilla, Chittagong. Chittagong, Bangladesh: A Project Paper. Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, 86p.
Islam A, Miah MD. 2003. Distribution and productivity of Khejur (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) in the villages of Chittagong region, Bangladesh. International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 4(1): 49–54.
Islam A, Miah MD. 2004. Date palm husbandry in a selected area of Bangladesh: A study of marketing and income generation. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 29(3): 497–500.
James CM. 1980. Palms of the world. New York, USA: Harper and Brothers, Pp. 164–218 and 225.
Johnson DV. 1995. Palm conservation: its antecedents, status and needs. Paper presented at the World Palm Symposium at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden on October 20–21 1995.
Johnson DV. 1996. Palms: Their conservation and sustained utilization. United Kingdom: IUCN Publications Services Unit, 219 Huntington Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL. Available at http://www.iucn.org/themes/SSC/publications/palms.htm . Last visited 25 Oct 2007.
Kamaluddin M, Nath TK, Jashimuddin M. 1996. Indigenous practice of khejur palm (Phoenix sylvestris) husbandry in rural Bangladesh. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 10(3): 357–366.
Mishra RM, Singh SK. 1989. Dispersal ecology of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. Environment and Ecology, 7: 235–245.
Naidu SJ, Misra MK. 1998. Production and consumption of wild date palm sap and country liquor in two tribal village ecosystems of Eastern Ghats of Orissa, India. Bioresources Technology, 63(30): 267–273.
Rashid HR. 1991. Geography of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh: University Press Limited.
Teklehaimanot Z, Mustafa MM, Hall JB. 2001. Farmers’ ecological knowledge about homegarden production system in Bangladesh. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 11(1): 67–79.
Zaid A. 1999. Date palm cultivation. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 156. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chowdhury, M.S.H., Halim, M.A., Muhammed, N. et al. Traditional utilization of wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris) in rural Bangladesh: an approach to sustainable biodiversity management. Journal of Forestry Research 19, 245–251 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-008-0036-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-008-0036-1