Rajshahi cane industry struggling to survive

Once famous Rajshahi cane industry is now fighting for its existence as only a handful cane furniture manufacturers are continuing their ancestral businesses.

Cane farmers said the invasion of modern and cheaper wood and plastic furniture, use of land for agriculture instead of growing cane, and mindless deforestation pushed industry on the verge of collapse.

Even five to six years ago, the district used to export cane furniture after meeting the local demand.

Farmers said the cane furniture of the district had enjoyed a great demand across the country due to its quality. However, they cannot make furniture owing to a shortage in the raw material crunch, spiralling prices of imported cane and labour crisis.

Traders alleged neither Rajshahi BSCIC nor Department of Agricultural Extension and Export Development Bureau provided them with any help in growing cane. According to local sources, now only five furniture shops in Hosniganj Betpotti, (cane village) and Bosorompur Bypass area in the city have been running the business.

The traders said now it is a great challenge to save the business.

Few years ago, there were 14 shops in Hosniganj Betpotti.

Craftsman Fuad Hossain said, “My father Khairul Islam was involved with the business as it is our ancestral profession and I have been in the business for 15 years after my father handed over to me.”

“I am thinking to leave the profession as I can make no profit here, ‘’ he added.

Once, people used chairs, tables, wrappers, baskets, kula, changari, chalon, dhama, bookshelves, sofas, beds made of cane.

The use of these items has decreased for modern and cheaper wood and plastic furniture, he added.

Fuad also added he earned only Tk50 for making a basket. It is impossible to make more than one basket in a day.

Faridur Rahman, a businessman, said Rajshahi has lost its cane forests. As a result, cane is brought from Naogaon, Dinajpur, Sylhet and Chattogram.

“Sometimes, we have to buy cane from abroad at high cost. Although the price of raw materials has increased several times, the price of cane products has not increased much, ‘’ he added.

Due to declining demand, artisans have turned away from this profession, he further said.

Ahmed Ali Uddin, salesman of Bichita Cane Furniture at City Bypass, said that a chair is sold at Tk 2,000 to Tk 7,000. Sofa set starts from Tk 14,000 to Tk 70,000, dining table set Tk 15,000 to Tk 80,000. Besides, beds are available for Tk 5,000 to Tk 60,000.

Ahmed Ali said general buyers, especially middle-class people, have lost interest in cane furniture as their prices are now out of their reach.

When contacted, KJM Abdul Awal, deputy director at Rajshahi Agriculture Extension Department, and Saidur Rahman, assistant director of Export Development Bureau Rajshahi, said they have no official data regarding cane furniture business.

Rajshahi BSCIC Deputy General Manager Jafar Bayazid also said, “We are trying to keep the industry alive. If traders tell us about their problems, we will solve it.’’

‘’I will also try to train and financially support the people involved in this industry, ‘’ he added.