Rajshahi  Correspondent:

Aloe vera has emerged as a high-value crop in the moisture-stressed Barind tract of Rajshahi and Natore, offering a climate-resilient solution to both environmental and economic challenges.

With its low water requirements and high market demand, Aloe vera has transitioned from a traditional subsistence plant to a structured commodity, directly addressing the region’s agricultural and economic constraints.

Since 2018, Aloe vera cultivation in the area has increased by over 300 per cent, driven by declining aquifer levels and the need for more sustainable farming practices.

The Department of Agricultural Extension, through satellite agronomy and field data, confirms that Aloe vera’s efficiency is unparalleled—it requires less than one-third the water of Boro rice, making it an ideal crop for water-scarce regions.

Farmers invest approximately Tk85,000 per acre to grow Aloe vera, with annual yields ranging between 35 and 42 tonnes of leaves. This results in a net income of Tk1.5–1.9 lakh per acre, which significantly outperforms traditional Rabi season crops.

Furthermore, Aloe vera provides a critical buffer against unpredictable rainfall patterns, securing the livelihoods of farmers in the region.

However, despite the crop’s promise, the supply chain reveals a significant value capture disparity. A three-tiered procurement system, involving local faria, regional aratdars, and corporate processors in Dhaka, facilitates market access but leaves producers with limited bargaining power.

While Bangladesh’s domestic herbal market is growing at an annual rate of 18 per cent and is currently valued at over Tk4,200 crore, less than 12 per cent of the value-added processes occur within the Rajshahi division.

Most Aloe vera leaves are transported raw, resulting in a significant loss of value as they undergo gel extraction, powder production, and consumer packaging in Dhaka, where the value is multiplied by four to seven times the farmgate price.

Several structural challenges contribute to the inequities faced by farmers, including the absence of formal quality grading, the lack of tailored financial products, and post-harvest losses due to inadequate cold-chain infrastructure. These bottlenecks prevent primary producers from capturing a larger share of the value.

Emerging institutional models, such as producer cooperatives with basic processing units and pilot blockchain traceability initiatives for export markets, suggest potential solutions for improving fairness in the Aloe vera value chain. These models aim to bring greater equity to the process by localising the grading, processing, and branding of Aloe vera.

Aloe vera thus represents a dual narrative: it is a proven, climate-resilient bio-economic adaptation for farmers in Northwest Bangladesh, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges in building inclusive agricultural value chains.

Its future as a high-value commodity hinges not only on continued cultivation but also on strategic investments in local processing infrastructure. Ensuring that the processes of grading, processing, and branding remain local will help translate this resilience into sustained prosperity for the region’s farmers, positioning Aloe vera as a key economic driver in the coming years.