INDIAN DATE PALM TREE – ITS CONTRIBUTION IN THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOUTH TWENTY FOUR PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL

Abstract

The Paper examines the socio-economic importance of the Indian Date Palm Tree (Phoenix sylvestris), particularly its contribution to the rural economy of West Bengal. The study highlights the tree's role as a significant sugar-producing plant, its beneficial uses, and an age-old practice in tapping its sap, while also exploring the indigenous knowledge involved in processing this sap into various products. The Paper also makes an attempt to find out the causes that are responsible for decline in date palm sap production in South twenty four Parganas district of West Bengal.