Poor market infrastructure sets back trade of Satkhira mangoes

KHULNA, May 05: Inadequate market infrastructure has come in the way of the desired growth of trade of Satkhira mangoes depriving the producers their deserving benefit and making the government ultimate looser of the revenue as well.

The mango selling season has begun in Satkhira. Due to the quality of the soil and weather, mangoes in Satkhira ripen earlier than in other parts of the country. As a result, farmers in this region get better prices for mangoes. But since there is only one market for selling mangoes in the district, farmers and traders have to suffer due to lack of space.

That is why farmers are demanding establishment of more markets locally instead of relying only on a sales centre called Sultanpur Barabazar.

Gobindabhog, Gopalbhog, Himsagar, Langra and Amrapali mangoes of Satkhira are valued in the country and abroad. And mangoes from this district ripen earlier. As a result, farmers can make income earlier selling their produce in the market earlier. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Satkhira, there are about 5,000 mango orchards in the district covering an area of 4,135 hectares.

The mango production target for the district in the current season has been set at 62,800 tonnes.

Of this, the district administration has set a specific timeframe for the collection and marketing of mangoes to maintain the quality of about 500 tonnes. As per the timeframe, Gobindabhog and Gopalbhog can be marketed from May 5, Himsagar from May 20, Langra from May 27 and Amrapali from June 5. Gobindabhog mangoes have already started ripening and have reached the market early.

Meanwhile, mango farmers and traders in the district have expressed their resentment over the existing marketing facilities which are inadequate.

They alleged that since there is only one big market in Satkhira, everyone has to sell mangoes there.

As a result, farmers, wholesalers and buyers are facing various problems due to lack of space. Due to lack of road space in Sultanpur Barabazar, mangoes have to be sold amid extreme difficulties. As a result, farmers are being deprived of fair prices. Therefore, before mangoes start appearing in the market, they have demanded that several mobile markets be set up besides Sultanpur Bogbazar. Farmers claim that if a few markets were opened and a mobile wholesale market was set up in the open field, good prices could be obtained. They have urged the district administration to take effective measures in this regard.

Mango farmer Moklesur Rahman of Dhulihar area said that due to the good quality of soil and weather, Satkhira mangoes ripen quickly and are very beautiful and delicious.

"We can market them first when they ripen. We also get good prices because we market them first. But due to the lack of space in Sultanpur Barabazar, we face a lot of problems in selling our mangoes. Unable to stand in the market, we often have to sell them at a low price and free up space."

Mango farmer Anarul Islam said Sultanpur Barabazar is basically a vegetable market. Many other goods are sold here along with vegetables. As a result, they face various problems and suffer a lot when they come here to sell mangoes. If there was an opportunity to sell mangoes in an open area nearby, it would have been very good for them. They would have found relief selling mangoes.

Mango trader Tuhin Hossain said that if an opportunity is given to set up a few more mango markets in addition to Barabazar in Satkhira, the farmers and buyers and sellers will be able to buy and sell mangoes there easily. He sought immediate intervention of the Satkhira district administration in this regard.

District administration source said mobile courts, check posts and special monitoring teams are working at the field level to monitor the collection and transportation of mangoes during this season. A publicity campaign will also be conducted to make farmers and traders aware.