Alongside the capital's large and small markets, mango sales from vans have taken off on its roads, alleys and pavements. Buyers can easily get many varieties of mango brought in from district towns, selling at Tk 80 to 150 depending on quality and size.

This was the picture on Friday in various parts of Mirpur 12 and 11 in the capital, and vendors are selling mangoes from vans on pavements and alleys in other areas too.

Himsagar, Langra, Guti, Gopalbhog, Gobindabhog, Ashwini and Haribhanga mangoes are available on the vans.

Mamun Mia has set up his van at the mouth of the road next to Molla Market in Mirpur 12. He normally sells leafy greens from his van, but in this hot season he sells mangoes and jackfruit. "These mangoes ripened on the tree. I brought them from Birulia in Savar. Even though the price is higher, people are buying; those who know good mangoes pay the price," he said. He is selling mangoes at Tk 150 a kg.

A hundred yards away, Sajib Ahmed was selling Himsagar and Langra from another van. He usually sells dates. He was seen selling Langra at Tk 100 and Himsagar at Tk 80.

"Selling mangoes from a van is less work. Vegetables give less profit and more labour: you have to clean them, water them, and there is more cutting. That is why more mangoes are sold from vans in the season," he said. Several people were seen selling mangoes from four or five more vans on that road.

On the Mirpur 11 kitchen market road too, many were selling mangoes from vans and from open plastic crates by the roadside. On the holiday, buyers of all ages were seen buying from these mobile stalls, and some said mangoes were Tk 5-10 cheaper here than in the market.

Buyer Billal Hossain said: "These hawkers are familiar to us. At other times we buy vegetables from them; now we buy mangoes. They charge a bit less than the market." Medium-sized Himsagar sells for Tk 100-120 in the market, he said, but Tk 80-90 on the vans. "The quality is the same; shops charge a bit more."

Talking to mobile vendors, it emerged that a van can sell 20-25 kg of mangoes, with sales picking up after dusk, leaving the vendor a profit of around Tk 1,000. Some make more.

Mirajul Islam was selling mangoes on the road next to the Mirpur 11.5 bus stand. Before the season he sold bananas from his van. "The same Himsagar is sorted in different ways, into three sizes, and by taste, colour and how ripe it is. That is why the same Himsagar is Tk 80 in one place, Tk 90 in another and Tk 120 somewhere else," he said. "The Gabtoli fruit wholesale market, the Savar wholesale market and Karwan Bazar are nearby. Fruit is coming from many places. Sales from vans are good now."

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