When the body tires in the scorching heat of Chaitra, people crave sour flavours. Dal, bhorta or juice made with green mango all taste special at this time. But green mangoes are now selling at high prices in the capital's markets, worrying consumers.

Kabir Hossain, a manager at a private company who lives in the Khaje Dewan area of Lalbagh, was getting ready for his usual morning walk on Sunday (5 April) when his wife asked him to bring back some green mangoes from the market. She planned to cook dal with green mango for lunch and make a bhorta with mustard paste.

At the market, Kabir Hossain was taken aback by the price. Depending on size, green mangoes were selling at Tk 120 to Tk 160 a kg. After bargaining, he bought 2 kg of medium-sized mangoes for Tk 300 and went home.

"I never imagined green mangoes would cost this much," he told this reporter. "In season, ripe mangoes sell at Tk 100 to Tk 150, and here green mangoes cost this much! The sellers are quoting fixed prices too."

A tour of the markets found that green mangoes have started to arrive, but supply is still limited. With demand up in the intense Chaitra heat, prices have risen noticeably.

Milon Mia, a pavement vegetable seller in Middle Badda, said that when he went to buy vegetables at Karwan Bazar on Saturday morning, three trucks of green mangoes had arrived, but they sold out within a short time.

"I bought 20 kg myself at Tk 110 a kg. Now I am selling at Tk 140 to Tk 150," he said.

A seller at Karwan Bazar said demand for green mangoes was high now because it was the start of the season and the weather was hot. Demand has risen not only among households but also at juice corners selling green mango juice.

"There are still few mangoes in the market, so the price is a little high. But in a few days, when supply increases, the price will come down to Tk 40 to Tk 60," he said.

For now, consumers are paying extra for green mangoes. Traders hope supply will increase and prices fall once the season is fully under way. Until then, buying this popular sour fruit in the Chaitra heat will put extra pressure on shoppers' pockets.

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