By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, July 15, 2022 (BSS) - In the last leg of around two and half months long brisk business of mango, trading of Fazly, king of the delicious fruit, has gained momentum in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts, famous for mango production throughout the country.
 
At present, if any one visits the two districts he or she will see mango and its vending and many people and the visitors in particular purchase the delicious fruit whatever the price is.
Nurul Islam, a wholesaler of Kansat, said the mango will be available by end of this month.
 
Mango of the two districts is conventionally late ripening and the growers can also preserve their fruits on trees for long so the farmers and businessmen get higher prices.
 
Mango is an important seasonal cash crop in northwestern Bangladesh, especially Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon.
Every season, a large number of people are involved in various types of work in the area. "It creates job opportunities for many people and they can earn some extra money," said Mozder Hossain, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
 
"Mango brings money to all sections of people in Baneshwar," said mango trader Shariful Islam, adding that even a labourer earns Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 per day during the season.
 
The businessmen are now getting the optimum price of Fazli mango as all other mango varieties have almost disappeared from the market. The traders and growers are also highly satisfied with the outputs.
 
"Now, we are selling Fazly mango after ending most of the conventional and tasty varieties like Gopalbhog, Langra and Khirsapat," said Shafiqul Islam, a retailer of Shaheb Bazar Mango Market. There are two other varieties, Ashwina and Amrupaly, in limited scale in the market at present, he added.
 
Fazli mango is being sold at Taka 2400 to Taka 2600 per mound according to size and quality at many of the markets like Shaheb Bazar, Baneshwar, Charghat and Bagha of Rajshahi and Sadar, Moharajpur, Ranihati, Kansat, Mobarakpur, Chowdala, Rohanpur, Mallikpur and Vholahat in Chapainawabganj.

Nasirul Islam, a farmer of Belpukur village under Puthiya Upazila, said price of Fazly mango has doubled after the Eid vacstion because of its gradually mounting demands.
Before the Eid, one maund of mango was sold at Taka 900 to 1,000 at Baneshwar Bazar with a rise of Taka 100 per mound than the previous week.
 
In addition to creating employment for over one and half lakh people, a transaction of more than Taka 1,500 crore has been done centering the mango farming, trading and transporting during the peak season.
 
Likewise, large numbers of people are seen engaged in creating new mango orchards on the cultivable lands in the vast Barind tract and char areas.
 
Shamsul Wadud, additional director of the DAE, said there are more than 2.60 lakh mango growers and orchard owners in the region comprising Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore and Naogaon districts.
 
Around 1.30 lakh people are engaged in various activities related to mango harvesting, segregating, packaging, transporting and marketing.
 
He added that the DAE has set a target of harvesting around ten lakh tonnes of mangoes from 80,360 hectares of land in the region this season while last year's production was 8,31,940 tonnes from 72,909 hectares of land.
Meanwhile, trading of mangoes online has gained a peak everywhere in the region benefitting both the sellers and buyers.
 
Many of the young entrepreneurs in the region are selling mangoes online after the best uses of facebook and WhatsApp like various social media.