RAJBARI, Mar 18: Milk crisis has hit local sweetmeat production.
The production of cow milk has declined to a great extent in all five upazilas of the district in recent years.
Shortage of milk is hindering preparation of mouth-watering sweetmeats up to their traditional standard, said concerned sources.
Once upon a time, persons going from Rajbari to their relatives' houses in other districts took some sweetmeats along with them.
The relatives at the other districts always desire and expect some sweetmeats from their relatives who would visit their houses from Rajbari, said a customer Rezaul Karim to this correspondent recently.
Another customer said, "I came from Barisal at my relative's house in Rajbari. Today I'm returning to my house with some sweetmeats from here."
An old man, Karim Mollah, 80, said to this correspondent, "A sweetmeat shop Lalmontewary Mistannao Bhander at Rajbari Station Road area, which started business in 1947, has lost its name and fame due to sharp fall in milk production here in the last few years."
Local sources attributed the declining trend of local milk production to the disappearance of pastures from char areas due to massive farming and from rural and suburban areas due to rapid construction of houses and business establishments, mills and factories.
Because of unavailability of grass, most people of the district are losing interest in rearing cattle both at farm and household levels.
Rajbari has a wide reputation for exquisite production of sweetmeats along with the availability of hilsa fish in the Padma River.
The production of cow milk has declined to a great extent in the district, said veteran sweetmeat traders- Kuddus Kha, Kanu Shankar and Jiten Saha.
Their views have been echoed by several cattle milk producers and suppliers. They said since the last Eid-ul-Fitr, the cow milk has been selling at Tk 60 to 65 per litre at local markets. But still pure milk is not always found as about 30 per cent milk is adulterated, they alleged.
Acute shortage of pure cow milk has put the renowned sweetmeat trade here in a dwindling position, said concerned sources.
The traders cannot run their business smoothly for want of sufficient quantity of pure cow milk for the last few years. During Eid and other festivals, they face serious crisis of milk, they said.
Sweetmeat traders, however, demanded frequent mobile court drives to prevent adulteration of milk.
