The country's biggest mango market is held at Kansat in Chapainawabganj. Prices there were low for a while, but they are now rising fast. Khirsapat, the area's tastiest mango and one with geographical indication (GI) recognition, is currently selling for Tk 5,000-7,000 a maund, and in much smaller quantities, because the season for this variety is almost over. Those involved say the fewer mangoes there are, the higher the price goes.

A visit to the Kansat market found farmers sitting with mangoes arranged in baskets on rows of vans and bicycles while buyers haggled. Khirsapat, Langra, Lakshmanbhog, Amrapali and various guti mangoes are on sale, but the GI-recognised Khirsapat fetches the highest price.

Robin Ali of Muslimpur village in Kansat union brought two baskets of Khirsapat to the market on a van. "Early on the price was poor, so I did not pick the mangoes from the trees. Now the price has gone up, so I have picked them and brought them to sell. Buyers are offering Tk 7,000 a maund, but I am asking Tk 8,000, so I have not sold yet. If prices stay like this, I will make a profit this year," he said.

Shafiqul Islam, a mango grower in Shyampur union, said about five maunds of Khirsapat were still in his orchard, but the fruit was small and would be finished within two or three days. "After that I will start picking Fazli. I sold the last of my Langra yesterday. I also have Ashwina in my orchard; those will reach the market in another 15 days," he said.

Saddam, a grower from the Abbas Bazar area, said the guti varieties, including Langra, Khirsapat, Lakshmanbhog and Amrapali, were almost finished and Fazli had now arrived. He finished his Lakshmanbhog that day, having already sold out of Khirsapat and Langra.

Rahman Ali, a grower from Hazarbighi village, said Khirsapat was now very scarce but was fetching a good price of Tk 7,000 to 8,000. "The problem is that the commission agents are buying mangoes at 54 kg to the maund. We are losing out because of it," he said.

Omar Faruk Tipu, general secretary of the Kansat Mango Commission Agents Traders' Cooperative Society, said prices were very good because there were few mangoes on the market, with almost no Khirsapat or Langra left. He said the guti season would end soon and Fazli had arrived. Depending on quality, Khirsapat is selling for Tk 6,000 to 8,000 a maund, Langra for Tk 6,000 to 7,000, Lakshmanbhog for up to Tk 1,700 and various guti mangoes for Tk 1,000 to 1,500. He said mangoes worth about Tk 30-40 crore now change hands at the market every day.

Shibganj upazila agriculture officer Shariful Islam told Jagonews24 that Shibganj had long been the best mango-producing area, and this year it had again produced plenty. The Kansat market is in the upazila and is now very busy, he said, but all the tasty guti varieties are coming to an end.

Shibganj upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Abul Hayat said the administration had met everyone involved with the Kansat market and taken several decisions to keep the surrounding area free of traffic jams. Farmers can now sell their mangoes in peace and are getting good prices, he said.

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