Two weeks have passed since mango picking formally began in Chuadanga. Alongside Anti, Guti and Bombai mangoes, Himsagar is now in the market too. But prices have fallen to about half of last season's: depending on variety, mangoes are selling at Tk 9-35 a kg wholesale. Growers and traders fear losses if prices stay like this.

Under the "mango calendar" drawn up by the district administration and the agriculture department, picking and marketing began in Chuadanga on 14 May. For the first week, sales of Anti, Guti and Bombai mangoes were disappointing. In the second phase, Himsagar picking and marketing began on 22 May. New mangoes are arriving in large quantities, but demand is very low.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chuadanga, 28,265 tonnes of mangoes could be produced this year from orchards on 2,465 hectares. Under the calendar, Langra will be picked and marketed from 25 May, Amrapali and BARI-3 from 5 June, Fazli from 21 June, and Ashwina and BARI-4 from 1 July.

The district's biggest mango market is the fruit section of Boro Bazar on the bank of the Mathabhanga river in Chuadanga town, where deliveries and trading start at dawn every day. Four kinds of mango are on sale, with Bombai and Himsagar in most demand. Growers and traders say prices are lower this year than in other years.

A visit to the market on Wednesday morning (24 May) found Bombai mangoes selling wholesale at Tk 1,000-1,200 a maund, depending on size and quality, and Anti and Guti at Tk 350-500. Himsagar, just arrived, was selling at Tk 1,200-1,400 a maund.

In retail shops, Himsagar was selling at Tk 45-50 a kg depending on quality, Bombai at Tk 40-45, and Anti and Guti at Tk 15-20.

Robiul Ali, who buys mangoes from the Chuadanga wholesale depot to sell at markets around the area, said: "I'm buying mangoes from the depot, but sales haven't picked up yet. Production is high, so sales are low."

Babu Biswas, who came to sell at the depot, said: "I grew mangoes on three bighas and had a very good crop this year, but I'm not getting a price that covers my costs. People are still going for litchis. So although the crop is big, prices are low and there's a big chance of a loss."

Fruit wholesalers Shukur Ali and Md Rafiq said prices are somewhat low because more fruit has come to market than there are buyers. Within a few days the market will rise and mango sales will increase, they said. Demand for litchis is still high; once it falls, mango sales and prices will rise.

Mango trader Nuruddin said: "If prices keep falling like this, growers won't save their capital. The Chuadanga market is very bad. Middlemen buy mangoes and can't sell them. We are frustrated at not getting a fair price."

Kalam Mia, general secretary of the Chuadanga District Fruit and Mango Traders' Association, told Jagonews that picking and marketing began on 14 May this year and the association is monitoring it along with the administration. "But litchis and other seasonal fruit are still in the market, so demand for mangoes is still low. And with pesticides, labour and other costs, we are not getting the price. If mangoes sell this cheaply, how will growers save their capital? If they spend all year and get a low price, how will they get by?"

He added that Chuadanga's mangoes are famous across the country, and if they could be exported abroad, growers and traders would benefit and get a price.

At the start of last season, Himsagar sold wholesale at Tk 2,000-2,400 a maund, Bombai at Tk 1,600-2,000 a maund, and Anti and Guti at Tk 1,200-1,400. This year prices have fallen to about half.

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