Complaints over the weighing of mangoes have surfaced again at the traditional Kansat market in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj. Instead of the standard maund of 40kg, wholesalers are buying mangoes counting 54-55kg as one maund.

A visit to Kansat market at midday on Tuesday, 2 June, found farmers and orchard owners arriving from various upazilas since dawn with mangoes loaded on pickups, vans and small trucks. Various early mango varieties were on sale, and the whole market was loud with the calls of traders and wholesalers. But most farmers who came to sell were unhappy with how the weight was calculated.

Farmers say that although a maund is 40kg under the rules followed in the country, wholesalers at Kansat have long been buying mangoes counting 54kg as one maund. This means farmers must hand over around 14-15kg of extra mangoes per maund, which has become a major financial loss for them.

Local mango farmer Abdur Rob said they had been forced to sell under this rule year after year. After bargaining over the price, they have to give extra mangoes at the weighing. Anyone who protests runs into trouble, so they are compelled to accept the irregularity.

Another farmer, Shafiqul Islam, said the costs of orchard care, fertiliser, pesticide, irrigation, labour and transport had risen sharply this season compared with before. Tending an orchard takes a great deal of money over several months. If on top of that they have to give extra weight, he said, recovering their capital would be a struggle, let alone making a profit.

Farmer Ripon Ali said that if a maund is counted as 54kg instead of 40kg, several maunds of mangoes go extra on every truck, causing heavy losses.

Some wholesalers and traders, on the other hand, say this is a very old market practice, introduced with transport, packaging and market management in mind.

Two wholesalers, Mamun Rahman and Shariful, said mango is a fresh fruit and loses weight on the road, which is why 14kg extra is taken. But the price paid is not lowered, they said.

Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mazharul Islam said work was under way in coordination with the relevant administration to protect farmers' interests, and there was no scope to take more than 40kg to the maund.

Yasin Ali, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chapainawabganj, said: "Excess weight is still being taken at Kansat market. We have received this complaint. It is being discussed with senior officials. Action will be taken quickly."

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