Padma hilsa from Bangladesh has reached India ahead of Durga Puja. The fish arrived at Howrah, West Bengal's largest wholesale fish market, on the morning of 27 September, and from there was due to reach retail markets in Kolkata and elsewhere in the state by the same morning.

The season's first consignment of hilsa entered India through Petrapole land port on Thursday afternoon: 54 tonnes from 10 firms, with fish weighing around one kilogram each. The rest will arrive in phases.

News of the hilsa's arrival from Bangladesh caused a stir across West Bengal from Thursday evening. From Friday morning small fish traders came from far and wide to the Howrah wholesale market, and many came just to see the hilsa.

Fish traders said the price was quite high but might fall somewhat as later consignments arrive.

Sukumar Mallick, a small fish trader who came to buy at Howrah market, said hilsa weighing one kilogram was selling at Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,700 a kg. "If it were Rs 1,400 a kg, we could sell at Rs 1,500 and buyers could buy comfortably," he said. "My shop sells only hilsa. On Saturday and Sunday, the local holidays, we will see how much demand there is among ordinary people."

Sheikh Bablu, a wholesale fish trader at Howrah market, said buyers were coming but leaving because prices were a little high. Fish weighing just over one kilogram cost Rs 1,600, and fish under one kilogram were selling at Rs 1,500.

Bangladeshi hilsa will reach Kolkata and other nearby markets from this Howrah wholesale market, so the retail price is expected to approach Rs 2,000 a kg. That has raised questions about whether buyers will pay so much for Bangladeshi hilsa, since hilsa from Digha and Kolaghat in West Bengal, Gujarat or Myanmar is available more cheaply in local markets. In taste, however, hilsa from those areas comes nowhere near Bangladeshi hilsa.

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