Mohammad Jahangir Alam

Chewing Sugarcane: a Potential Agribusiness in Hill Areas of Bangladesh Mohammad Jahangir Alam

This study was conducted on agribusiness system of commercial farms producing chewing sugarcane in Khagrachhari district of Bangladesh. It was based on a sample survey in which 35 farmers of Khagrachhari sadar upazila and 25 chewing sugarcane traders of Khagrachhari and Chittagong district were interviewed. The net returns of small, medium and large farms were Tk.423471, Tk.347997 and Tk.376909, respectively. The corresponding benefit cost ratios were 2.3, 1.99 and 2.05. Chewing sugarcane moves from the producer to the ultimate consumer through some market intermediaries such as Paiker or Bepari, Arathdar, retailer and retailer cum processor. The net marketing margins of Paikers or Beparis, Arathdars, retailers and retailer cum processors were estimated at Tk.1115, Tk.281, Tk.5441 and Tk.15050 per thousand canes respectively. The return on operating capital was the highest for Arathders (128.31%) followed by retailer cum processors (55.85%). Both farmers and traders reported that lack of operating capital was the major problem followed by labor scarcity, lack of adequate market information and high transportation cost.