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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Economy & Trade

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From Daily Star · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Coconut oil mills in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, are shutting down due to a severe whitefly infestation devastating coconut yields.
  • Farmers are losing their livelihoods as trees are weakened, leading to reduced fruit production and increased operational costs for mills.
  • The crisis threatens a centuries-old industry, with efforts to control the pest yielding little success so far.

A devastating whitefly infestation is crippling the coconut industry in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, forcing oil mills to shut down and leaving farmers struggling to survive. The pest, which settles under coconut leaves, feeds on sap, causing leaves to yellow, dry out, and weakening the trees' ability to bear fruit. A sticky substance secreted by the whitefly also promotes black fungus, further hindering the trees' health and productivity.

Chayan Kundu, owner of a coconut oil mill in Bagerhat's BSCIC Industrial Area, exemplifies the crisis. He reopened his mill hoping to process gathered coconuts, but anticipates closing again soon. Once employing 30-40 workers daily, his mill now operates with just one. "If we find coconuts somewhere, we will reopen after two or three months. This is how the mill is barely surviving," Kundu stated, noting that 20-25 other mills in the area face similar precarious situations.

If we find coconuts somewhere, we will reopen after two or three months. This is how the mill is barely surviving.

— Chayan KunduA coconut oil mill owner in Bagerhat describing the precarious state of his business due to dwindling coconut supply.

The impact extends to the growers. Abul Hossain Khan, a farmer from Sangdiya village, once relied on his 350 coconut and betel nut trees for income. "Now, because of these white insects, coconuts are not growing at all, and the leaves are drying up," he lamented. Sohan Sheikh, another grower, reported all his over 100 trees are affected, with additional damage from rats cutting down coconuts. The Agricultural Extension Department (DAE) has advised farmers on pesticides and sprays, but these efforts have shown minimal results.

Bagerhat, historically known for its coconuts, has seen its cultivation area shrink by about 150 hectares and production decrease by nearly 1,000 tonnes over the past decade. With local supplies dwindling, mill owners are forced to source coconuts from outside the district, incurring higher transport costs that push many factories toward closure or a shift to other trades. Traders fear the collapse of an industry that has been a cornerstone of the region for centuries.

Now, because of these white insects, coconuts are not growing at all, and the leaves are drying up.

— Abul Hossain KhanA local farmer explaining the impact of the whitefly infestation on his coconut trees.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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