Mangoes are selling at high prices in Dhaka even at the height of the season. Amrapali, Fazli, Surma, Banana and BARI mangoes sell for Tk 100 to Tk 160 a kg depending on quality, and even on vans no good mango can be had for less than Tk 80.

That was the picture at various markets on 10 July. The mango season in the country usually runs from May to September, with the main peak in June and July.

Amrapali from Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is selling for Tk 100 to Tk 140 a kg. Darkened and over-ripe fruit goes for Tk 100, while less ripe, fresh fruit fetches Tk 130 to Tk 140. Last week good-quality Amrapali sold for Tk 110.

Tasty BARI mangoes sell for Tk 100 to Tk 120 a kg, the sweet-and-sour Surma for Tk 110, Fazli for Tk 120 to Tk 130 and Banana mango for Tk 140 to Tk 160.

Sujon Mia, a fruit seller at the Mirpur 11 kitchen market, said: "The Langra season is over, and Amrapali won't be around much longer either. Buyers have also fallen a little. All in all, prices are higher. But BARI and Surma mangoes are selling a bit cheaper."

Alamgir, a fruit seller at Rainkhola market, said: "It's Fazli season now; this is the mango that will sell most. People are buying fewer mangoes. After this month there won't be any more mangoes."

Minhaj Uddin, buying mangoes at the Mirpur Original 10 fruit market, said: "There's still Amrapali. As long as it's in the market, I'll buy it. Today I took four kilos of Amrapali and one kilo of Surma. The season is nearly over, so prices are a bit higher."

Amrapali is also being sold from vans in residential neighbourhoods, at Tk 80 to Tk 120 a kg depending on quality.

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