A decision has been taken to end the long-standing "dhalan" practice in the Rajshahi region's mango trade and to buy and sell mangoes by the kilogram from now on.

The decision was made at a meeting in the conference room of the Rajshahi divisional commissioner's office on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9 June. It was chaired by Divisional Commissioner Dr A N M Bazlur Rashid.

He said the administration's aim is to ensure that mango growers get a fair price.

The meeting was told that although payment was made for 40 kg, wholesalers in many cases took 44 to 54 kg of mangoes, causing financial losses to growers. Under the new decision, mangoes will be traded by the kilogram, and a commission of Tk 3 per kg has been set for wholesalers.

The meeting was conducted by Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Mohammad Habibur Rahman. Speakers included Rajshahi Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammad Shahjahan, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Fayezul Kabir, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam, Chapainawabganj Deputy Commissioner Abu Saleh Md Musa Jangi, Department of Agricultural Marketing Rajshahi division deputy director Shahana Akhtar Jahan, Fruit Research Station Rajshahi chief scientific officer Dr Shafiqul Islam, and Sundarban Courier Service AGM Mahmudul Alam Swajal.

Administrative officials, mango growers, traders and representatives of relevant offices from Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj were present. Those involved hope the decision, if implemented, will meet a long-standing demand of mango growers.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Jago News published a report headlined "'Dhalan' practice swallows mango profits". It noted that the Rajshahi region's mango economy grows every year, and that demand for Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj mangoes is rising abroad as well as at home. Behind this success, however, a long-running practice called "dhalan" has been taking a large share of growers' profits.

Although the administration had decided to introduce trading by the kilogram, in reality farmers at various mokams and wholesale markets in Rajshahi division still have to hand over 52 to 54 kg of mangoes instead of 40 kg (one maund), while being paid for 40 kg. As a result, mangoes worth hundreds of crores of taka go free of charge to traders and wholesalers every season.

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