Chapainawabganj is called the mango capital, and Kansat in its Shibganj upazila is the country's largest mango market. But ordinary growers at this market are being held hostage by wholesalers (aratdars). Not only here but also at Rohanpur and Bholahat in the district, the wholesalers are taking at least 15 to 20 kg of extra mangoes per maund. Mango growers and traders are in trouble, and nobody seems to be looking into an irregularity that has been going on for three years.

This was the picture on a day-long visit to Kansat mango market on Saturday (22 June). The wholesalers are buying mangoes at 50 to 52 kg to the maund, largely by holding the growers hostage. Growers who refuse to sell at the extra weight have complained of being treated badly. On top of the 52 kg, one or two more mangoes are taken per maund, so the wholesalers are taking at least 12 to 15 kg extra per maund.

Meanwhile, at Rohanpur mango market in Gomastapur upazila and at Bholahat mango market, almost 60 kg is being taken as one maund. In short, 15 to 20 kg of extra mangoes are being taken per maund.

Habibur Rahman Habib, a resident of the Abbas Bazar area, had come to Kansat to sell Khirsapat mangoes. "Four years ago we sold mangoes at 42 to 43 kg to the maund. But in 2022 the wholesalers bought at 48 kg to the maund. Since then the weight has been rising every year. This year they are buying at 52 to 55 kg to the maund. We are in trouble now. Where do we go, and who do we tell about this irregularity?" he said.

Ataur Rahman, a resident of Muslimpur village, said the trees had borne far fewer mangoes this year than in other years. "Coming to sell, I hear that 52 kg will be counted as one maund. The sky has fallen on my head. Last year too the wholesalers held us hostage and took 50 kg to the maund. This time they are taking 52 kg. Often, by stalling, they take at least 55 kg to the maund," he said.

Asmaul Hasan of Shyampur Chowdhurypara village said 70 per cent of orchards had no mangoes this year. "Going to the orchard makes me sad. At the market I hear we have to give 12 to 15 kg extra per maund. Now you tell me, where are we to sell our mangoes?" he said.

Omar Faruk Tipu, general secretary of the Kansat Mango Aratdar Traders' Cooperative Society, said the issue was causing trouble not only at Kansat but in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Gomastapur and Bholahat as well. "We want a uniform weight to be set for all mango markets in Rajshahi division. Talks are going on with senior officials. We sat in a meeting on this a few days ago too, but Rohanpur and Bholahat did not accept our decision," he said.

Ahsan Habib, member secretary of the Chapainawabganj Mango Foundation, said: "We work hard to grow mangoes, but the wholesalers are taking 12 to 15 extra mangoes per maund. They are buying at 50 to 55 kg to the maund. This irregularity has been going on for several years. We want to be freed from this syndicate."

He added that there were weight disputes in Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Rajshahi too. "We want the same measure of weight in every mango market. We have complained to the agriculture minister as well, but no action has been taken."

Ismail Khan Shamim, general secretary of the Shibganj Mango Producer Co-operative Society, said the district has three mango markets and each uses a different weight. "So we sat with the authorities of the three markets but could not resolve it. Now the wholesalers at Kansat are buying at 52 kg to the maund," he said.

Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ujjal Hossain told Jago News that he had heard about the weight dispute at Kansat but had not followed it up since Eid. No grower had made a written complaint, but he would still talk to senior officials and try to resolve the matter.

The agriculture department has set a target of 450,000 tonnes of mangoes in the district this year, up from 425,000 tonnes last year. But although the target has risen, the chances of higher production are very slim, because growers say 70 per cent of trees have not fruited this year compared with last year.

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