Mango trading in various hats and markets of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj has not started in full swing due to insufficient supply of quality mangoes.
Now, at the first week of June, the low-quality Guti or seed mangoes are mainly being sold at various hats and markets. The good quality Goplabhog, Khirsapat and Mohanbhog varieties of mango are also being sold on a limited scale due to insufficient supply and high price.
Sources said the economy of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore boosts and flourishes with the production and marketing of mango every year. The scope of a huge employment generation is created during this mango season. Thousands of marginal farmers, mango farm owners and unemployed young people of the region are engaged in the seasonal mango trading to generate more income.
The trading of mango worth around Tk 400 crore is likely to be held this year despite a fall in the mango production.
In previous years, the transporting of mangoes through trucks and courier services to various places of the country including Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong started fully by the first week of June. However, the scenario is different this year as there is not enough supply of mango in the markets of Rajshahi region.
Though the 'Mango Special' train is likely to transport mangoes from Chapainawabganj from June 10, the wholesale mango traders in Rajshahi are in doubt about marketing sufficient mango this year.
Customers of mango at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi said the best quality- mangoes are now beyond the purchasing capacity of common people due to its excessive price.
Manik, a wholesale mango trader at Shaheb Bazar, said mango usually appears in markets from the second week of May. However, it was delayed this year due to unfavorable weather conditions. The early varieties of quality mango like Gopalbhog, Khirsapat, Mohon Bhog and Rani Pasand usually appear in the first week of June. This year, these mangoes are very scarce in the markets. The varieties- Langra, Amrapali, Khudi-Langra, Brindaboni, Laxmanbhog and Mallika will appear at the next phase. The production of these mangoes are not also sufficient this year, the local mango orchard owners said.
At the last phase, the varieties of Surma Fazli, Fazli and Ashina will appear in the markets of the districts which are likely to continue until the end of September.
In the markets of Rajshahi, per Kg of Gopal Bhog mango was being sold at Tk 120 to Tk 140, the Mohanbhog and Khirsapat were being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per Kg.
Peter, a mango trader at Shaheb Bazaar area, said the price of mango is not decreasing during the full season. The insufficient supply of mango and increased transport cost are responsible for the high price of mango.
Pulak, Manager of Sunderban Courier Service in Rajshahi, said the rush for sending mango through courier service has not been geared up till now.
Other courier services like Ahmed Courier, SA Paribahan, Janani Paribahan and Karotoa Courier are also receiving less mango baskets in compared to the last year.
Dr Alim Uddin, Senior Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Horticulture Research Centre, said the production of mangoes was hampered in the district this year due to extreme heat, drought, absence of rainfall and pest infestation and lack of proper care.
