Brisk mango trading in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj

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RAJSHAHI, June 21, 2018 (BSS) – After the Eid celebration, mango trading
has gained momentum with appearance of several varieties of the fruit in the
markets of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts, known as the hub of the
delicious crop.

Apart from the established markets, enormous mango-based trading at haats
and other growth centres has changed the rural economic scenario of the
region as a whole.

Now the divisional city’s markets are abundant with all varieties of mango
and the wholesale buyers as well as the retailers have been pouring into the
markets and bargaining to settle the price.

After ending the brisk business of Gopalbhog, a king variety of mango for
its taste and flavor, some other delicious varieties like Khirshapat, Langra
and Fazli have appeared in the markets in abundance besides other local and
developed varieties.

Abdul Wadud Montu, a mango wholesaler at Shaheb Bazar, said Khirsapat is
being sold from Taka 1,800 to 2,000, Langra from Taka 1,600 to 1,800, Fazli
from Taka 800 to 1,100 and Ranipasand from Taka 1,200 to 1,400 per mound at
present.

He mentioned that the present market price is lower than the previous
years. Month-long Ramadan followed by Eid-celebration might be the reason
behind the price fall. Montu, however, says there is no possibility of
reducing the market price in the days ahead.

In Rajshahi city, many places like Shaheb Bazar, Swarnapatty, Seroil,
Railway Gate, Luxmipur Bus terminal, Court Bazaar, New Market, Upashahar
Market, Shalbagan, Binodpur, Court Station and Baneshwar Bazar are flooded
with mangoes.

Besides the market-based trading, many vendors are selling mango with vans
and other manual vehicles frequently.

Ali Hossain, a mango-trader at Bus terminal in the metropolis, said the
much- expected buying and selling has been gaining momentum gradually despite
the high price.

Like the previous years, people from across the country are coming to
Rajshahi city and its outskirts especially Baneshawar Bazar to buy quality
juicy mangoes.

Meanwhile, around 40 tonnes of mangoes are now being supplied and
transported from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts to different parts of
the country including the capital city Dhaka every day.

In addition to the passenger-coach, train, truck and other private
vehicles, huge mangoes are being transported by the courier services in
particular every day.

Some conscious buyers alleged that a section of unscrupulous mango traders
are mixing quality mangoes with low quality ones to make extra profit.

Centering the marketing of mango, also an important cash crop in the
northwestern Bangladesh especially in the two districts, a large number of
people are involved in various types of works in the two districts.

SM Mustafizur Rahman, additional director of Department of Agriculture
Extension, said mango was cultivated on 26,150 hectares of land with a
production target of 2.44 lakh metric tons in Chapainawabganj, 12,671
hectares with production target of 1.62 lakh metric tons in Naogaon, 56,021
metric tons production target from 4,823 hectares in Natore district.

He said Rajshahi district had mango orchards on 16,961 hectares in the
last year. This year the figure rose to 17,463 hectares with around 24.27
lakh trees. If there were no major natural calamity mango production is
expected to reach 2.18 lakh metric tonnes in the current season.

Dr Alim Uddin, principal scientific officer of Mango Research Centre, said
mango farming is increasing every year and the gardeners are earning huge
profits by cultivating high yielding and hybrid varieties like Amropali side
by side with the traditional and popular indigenous varieties.