Politicians demand policy
Development of a tea industry in northern districts would not be possible by ignoring small farmers because unlike in other tea growing areas, most lands there are owned by small farmers.
They also demanded of the government to set up a tea processing plant, purchasing centres, and a well equipped and properly manned regional office of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) in Panchagarh to promote tea plantation and help growth of a tea industry in the highly prospective area.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The area, suitable for cultivation of world famous Darjeeling variety of tea, could be turned in a tea hub if proper steps are taken timely, they told this correspondent.
Ruling BNP lawmaker from Panchagarh-2 Mozahar Hossen said big companies deserve appreciation for initiating tea plantation in the area but there is no alternative to promoting plantation by small farmers because the situation in Panchagarh is different from Sylhet where lands are owned by the government and leased to tea companies.
Regarding indiscriminate purchase of small farmers' lands by big companies, he said the issue was discussed at the district law and order meeting in presence of minister-in-charge of the district Rezaul Karim a few months ago.
As per a decision of the meeting, letters were sent to different land registration offices so that no one can purchase land beyond the government ceiling.
He said he will raise the issue in the Jatiya Sangsad for discussion on government policy and steps to promote tea cultivation in the area.
The lawmaker said tea cultivation on plain land by small growers is a new idea in Bangladesh. But this has become successful in India and Sri Lanka.
He said steps taken by the BTB are pragmatic and too inadequate to the needs.
Mozahar Hossen said as per the policy of the present government, small tea planters are given bank loan and other technical support.
He demanded immediate setting up of a tea processing factory, some tea purchasing centres and fixation of price for green tea leaves to promote cultivation by small growers.
Panchagorh district General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Mazaharul Haq Prodhan said it was a long-time demand of his party for government initiative to promote tea cultivation in the district.
Responding to the demand, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina ordered BTB in 1999 to conduct soil tests in Panchagarh and Thakurgaon.
The regional officer of BTB was set up in April 2001 on orders from the then AL government, he said.
Prodhan said small farmers should be encouraged and provided with all facilities including loan and training to promote tea plantation in the neglected and backward region. This is the only way to change the socio-economic condition of the area, he said.
He also demanded formulation of a policy and setting up of a processing factory and some purchasing centres.
Prodhan said indiscriminate land purchase by some companies is a matter of great concern. This will increase the number of landless people and create social strife in future, he said. He mentioned that there were some unhappy incidents between local Shantal people and a tea company in Tetulia few years back. Land purchase should be as peer law, he said.
He suggested that small tea farmers should form an association to protect their interests.
Expressing the same sentiment, Panchagarh Krishok League President MA Rouf demanded that the price of green tea leaves be fixed at Tk 12 per kg because the tea grown there is of better quality than those in other areas.
He demanded that the ceiling on land purchase by companies for tea garden should be enforced.
Former president of Panchagarh Lawyers Association advocate Wahiduzzaman Suja said, tea plantation by small farmers has opened the scope for their economic uplift and development of the area. The government should act keeping this in view and patronise small growers, he said.
Kawsar Ahmed, a senior Journalist in Panchagarh, said a tea industry has grown just across the border. The potential here lies in cultivation of tea by the vast majority farmers, not by a few individuals, he said. (concluded)