Markets across Bandarban are full of local and foreign mango varieties, selling at Tk 60 to Tk 300 depending on the variety.

On the ground, mangoes of many varieties, including Red Palmal, Red Queen, Miyazaki, Brunei King, Rupali and Rangoai, are stacked in layers for sale. The ripe foreign varieties catch the eye, but buyers are content with Amrapali and Rangoai.

The local Amrapali and Rangoai are selling at Tk 60-100. Among foreign varieties, Katimon sells at Tk 180-220, Kiujai at Tk 250-280, Brunei King at Tk 180-220, Banana Mango at Tk 200, Red Palmal and Red Queen at Tk 300-320, Katimon at Tk 180 and Himsagar at Tk 100.

Fruit seller Touhidul Islam said: "My shop has Red Palmal, Red Queen, Banana, Katimon, Kiujai, Himsagar, Langra and Rupali mangoes. Because foreign mangoes are expensive, no more than 5-7 kg sell a day. The local Rupali, Langra and Himsagar are cheaper and tasty, so more than 30-40 kg sell a day."

Another fruit seller, Md Iliyas, said: "I took 20 kg of Banana and 50 kg of Rangoai mangoes to sell in the morning. By noon I had sold four kg of Banana and 32 kg of Rangoai."

Buyer Abdur Rahim said: "Foreign mangoes look tempting, but buying them for the whole family is expensive. So I bought the local Rupali, which is cheaper and unmatched in sweetness."

M M Shah Neaz, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bandarban, told Jagonews24 that mangoes were grown on 10,100 hectares in the district last year and on 10,200 hectares this year. This year 65 percent is Rangoai, 30 percent Amrapali and 5 percent local and hobby foreign varieties, with an average yield of 11-12 metric tonnes per hectare.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.