Amdadul Haque
Prolonged general holidays across the country and disruption of communication system in the wake of coronavirus pandemic have put cultivators of summer fruits in a state of anxiety as the marketing of their produces has become uncertain.
Therefore, the government has taken various plans to ensure smooth supply and marketing of seasonal fruits including mango, lychee, jackfruit and many other summer fruits timely during the countrywide lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak.
The Ministry of Agriculture drew up the plans after an online meeting with stakeholders, including local representatives, experts, fruit farmers, traders and wholesalers on Saturday.
The plans include using BRTC truck for carrying fruits, reduction in toll for returnee trucks crossing Bangabandhu Bridge, extension of scope to carry fruits on parcel train, introduction of apps for online fruit trading including mango, lychees and other fruits, and ensuring easy travel for wholesaler, traders and those involved in the business following safety measures.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said, while talking on the online meeting, “The government will extend all-out support to growers and traders in selling and marketing easily all the seasonal fruits like mango, litchi and watermelon, jackfruit at this time of coronavirus pandemic.”
Attending the online meeting, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said his ministry will launch a mobile app, ‘Ek Shop’, within three to four days where farmers will be able to sell their produces online.
Using this app, he said, agricultural produces from farmers will reach directly to the doorsteps of people, including mega shops.
President of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Transport Owners-Labouers Oikya Parishad Tajul Islam said they will work together during this crisis.
Most mangoes are grown in Rajshahi, Noagaon, Chapainawabganj, Satkhira, Natore, Gazipur and Chittagong hill tracts districts. Most lychees are grown in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Pabna, Gazipur and Chittagong hill tracts districts. Besides, Tangail, Gazipur and Rangamati have the highest production of jackfruit.
Talking to some mango orchard owners and farmers of Rajshahi, it has been learned that it would take more than a week for the mangoes to reach the market, because the mangoes have not ripen yet.
Abdul Alim, a mango farmer from Chapainawabganj, told The Bangladesh Post, that “The impact of coronavirus has started. Coronavirus panic has gripped mango farmers.”
He said, “Lengra and Khirsa will start ripening after Eid. Fazli and Ashwina mangoes ripen much later.”
Abdur Rahim, a mango grower from Chapainawabganj told The Bangladesh Post, “Normally, seasonal fruit traders come to buy mango orchards. But this time, there is no orchard buyer due to the coronavirus restrictions. In such a condition, we are afraid of incurring huge losses.”
Another mango grower, Shamim Ahmed, said, “The amount of mangoes this year is much lesser than that of the last year. No wholesale broker visited our orchards. If they don’t come, how we'll sell our mangoes?”
Bangladesh Mango Producer Merchant Association (BMPMA) president Abdul Wahed told The Bangladesh Post that this time there is no smile on the faces of mango growers and traders because of the corona situation. They could not take proper care of their gardens due to the coronavirus situation and now they are worried about the marketing of the seasonal fruits amid suspension of transports and restrictions on free movement of people.
However, mango collection starts from the middle of May. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year target of producing mangoes was set at 7.5 lakh metric tonnes approximately in three districts: Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Satkhira.
Nazrul Islam, Deputy Director of the DAE, told The Bangladesh Post that mango growers are now passing days amid serious anxieties due to the coronavirus restrictions. “There is no reason to worry about. Initiatives will be taken from the administration so that mango-laden trucks could move to different areas across the country,” he said.
“After the Ramadan, there’ll be no problem in marketing mangoes with the improvement in the coronavirus situation,” Nazrul Islam hoped.
Director-General of the Department of Agriculture Marketing under the Agriculture Ministry Mohammad Yusuf told The Bangladesh Post that they have taken all kinds of measures for fruits marketing. He said the department has made available lorry and trucks so they will give the free transportation amid coronavirus.
Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association (BFFIA) president Salimul Haque Essa said they are now worried about making profit. Summer fruits include litchi, watermelon, pineapple, jackfruit, guava, musk melon, papaya, different varieties of berries, etc have demand across the country.
Rajshahi District Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Shamsul Haque told the Bangladesh Post that “Seasonal fruits for sale are out of lockdown. So marketing will not be a problem. From now farmers will be able to take fruits to the market in compliance with hygiene rules. According to the ministry's instructions, all possible assistance will be provided to ensure fair prices for farmers' produces, including mangoes and litchis, during the coronavirus crisis.”
