Following litchi and mango, jackfruits are now flooding the local markets in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna including Joynagar Boardghor Office More Bazar in Salimpur Union of the upazila.
The market as well as other markets are now very busy with retailers and wholesalers every day from morning to evening.
Wholesalers from different parts of the country including Dhaka, Khulna, Mongla, Jashore, Barishal, Chattogram, Sylhet, Barguna, Kuakata are coming to this market to buy jackfruit. The wholesalers after buying hundreds of jackfruits are loading them on trucks and taking them to their respective areas for retail sale.
According to Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Officer's Office, there are many jackfruit trees in seven unions of the upazila including the municipal area and some local farmers also have jackfruit orchards. Of them, jackfruit production is highest in Sahapur and Salimpur unions of the upazila. Jackfruit has been cultivated on 129 hectares of land including orchards and homestead land in the upazila.
Vsiting the market on Monday morning, it was learned that Ishwardi's jackfruit is appreciated all over the country. The largest wholesale market of jackfruits produced in the upazila is the Joynagar Boardghor Bazar at Salimpur Union of the Upazila. Apart from this Bazar, jackfruits are also bought and sold at Aotapara Hat in Sahapur union.
There are several warehouses in the Joynagar Boardghor Bazar for wholesalers coming from different parts of the country to buy jackfruits. Jackfruits are brought to a large open space on the west side of the road adjacent to the Bazar in trucks, vans, pickups, rickshaws, CNG-powered autorickshaws and stored there for the wholesalers to buy.
Talking to two storekeepers here, it was learned that for about 15 years, this Boardghar Bazar in Joynagar has been selling jackfruits. From mid-June to mid-July, the market lasts for a month.
Every day 12 to 15 thousand jackfruits are bought and sold at the Bazar. Retailers and storekeepers put raw and ripe jackfruits all over the place which streachs up to one km area
A farmer named Azmat Ali brought 10 small and large jackfruits in a van and sold them to the storekeeper for Tk 700. Ibrahim Hossain, a seasonal fruit trader from Sylhet bought 15 medium-sized jackfruits for Tk 30 each. He said large jackfruits are sold at Tk 100 to 130 at the market. He bought more than 2,000 jackfruits from there in a day. He said that he would later sell them at a higher prices at different areas in Sylhet.
Abur Ali, a jackfruit storekeeper in Joynagar, said the jackfruit yield is a little lower this year compared to last year. Lots of jackfruits are imported here every day. The price is within reach. Jackfruits are being sold at Joynagar Bordghor Bazar at a price ranging from Tk 30 to 120.
Idris Ali, a jackfruit trader from Khulna, said that the structure of jackfruit here is good and delicious. As it is convenient in terms of communication and price, it is very profitable to buy jackfruit from Ishwardi Joynagar and sell it in Khulna. He said that he buys jackfruit from there every year. According to the jackfruit traders, the jackfruit business will be flourishing for a month.
Abdul Latif, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said jackfruit is cultivated on 129 hectares of land in Ishwardi’s seven unions and the municipal area. More than 6,000 metric tonnes of jackfruit is produced in Ishwardi. Compared to other parts of the country, jackfruits produced in this area is more delicious. Local farmers make an excellent profit by selling jackfruits, he added.
