RAJSHAHI, June 23 (BSS): Both wholesale and retail mango markets in Rajshahi and its adjacent districts particularly Chapainawabganj and Naogaon are seen bustling with all varieties of mangoes during the current peak season of the delicious fruit.
Huge supply of different varieties of mangoes like Langra and Khirsapat, superior varieties of mango known for their taste and flavour, along with some other local varieties have appeared in the markets in abundance at present.
Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station Dr Alim Uddin said that the divisional city's markets are abundant with all varieties of mangoes despite the pandemic.
The acreage for mango farming is increasing every year and the orchards are getting high returns, producing mangoes.
Gopal Bhog, Langra, Khirsapat, Fazli mango produced in the region has gained huge popularity among the farmers for its unique taste. It is sold at Tk 60 to Tk 110 per kg, depending on quality and size.
Mango brings money to all categories of people in Baneswar Bazar, one of the famous mango markets in the region, said mango trader Shariful Islam, adding even a labourer earns Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 per day during the season. Local markets are witnessing a huge supply of different varieties of the fruit grown locally.
Besides, large quantities of mangoes are being sent to other places in the country including capital Dhaka from Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj by passenger-coaches, trains, trucks and private vehicles every day.
Meanwhile, trading of mangoes online has gained a peak everywhere in the region benefiting both the sellers and buyers.
Business on online platforms has gained popularity to reach the mangoes towards the doorsteps of the buyers amid the pandemic situation.
Many of the young entrepreneurs in the region have been selling mangoes online after the best uses of Facebook and WhatsApp like various social media.
With this, employment scopes for many people have been generated on one hand and the mango growers are getting fair prices on the other hand.
Apart from this, the consumers are getting formalin-free and fresh mango according to their demands timely.
For the third consecutive time, the West Zone of Bangladesh Railway has been operating a special parcel train on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route via Rajshahi for transporting mangoes to Dhaka at a lower cost for the welfare of the mango traders and farmers.
The cargo train is carrying a maximum of 225 tonnes of mangoes in eight wagons every day. So, farmers and traders can transport goods at their will. It costs Tk 1.17 to carry a kilogram of mango to Dhaka from Rajshahi and it is Tk 1.30 from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka.
Shamsul Wadud, additional director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said there are more than 0.26 million mango growers and orchard owners in the region comprising Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore and Naogaon districts.
Around 0.13 million (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 one million (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.
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