Socio-Economic and Profitability Analysis of Date Palm Molasses(GUR) Industry in India: A Field Survey Based Study

Abstract

Date palm molasses in rural Bengal of Indian subcontinent is well-known during winter for its taste, fragrance and its role as basic ingredient of sweet making. Study on date palm molasses is found to have its traditional importance to the place or places where most of the date palm trees are concentrated. The objective of the present survey based study is to analyze the socio economic profile like lifestyle, educational background as well as family profile of the said molasses entrepreneurs and profitability pattern of traditional skill based date palm molasses venture at Shyampur area of Howrah district, West Bengal, India. The study has been conducted by survey method by taking primary or raw data collected from field survey. For the purpose of the study, we have surveyed five date palm molasses entrepreneurs at Shyampur area of Howrah District, West Bengal, India. From the study, it has been found that all the entrepreneurs have earned sufficient amount of profit from this traditional knowledge based industry .For enhancing efficiency and reducing risk to artisans in climbing trees, methods like aerial rope ways and bamboo ways have to be introduced in the field. As suggestive measure, it can be inferred that the artisans should be brought under the insurance coverage from protecting them from losses arising out of natural calamities and should be given amenities on training program, input availabilities, credit facilities and amenities for education so that they can be well responsive of their problems.

Keywords: Date palm, molasses, India, profitability.