In Jyoishtha, the honey month, the hill markets are filling with juicy fruit. Hill people bring fruit in from far and near every day, and trade is brisk.

On Tuesday morning (23 May), at College Gate, Banarupa, Reserve Bazar and Tabalchhari bazar in Rangamati town, small farmers had brought in basket after basket of mangoes, litchis and jackfruit. Seasonal traders were buying the fruit from farmers to send to Chattogram and other districts, while some farmers were selling retail in the local markets.

Depending on type, some local mangoes were selling at Tk 40-80 a kg, local litchis at Tk 60-70 a kg, and jackfruit at Tk 80-150 each depending on size.

Abdur Rob, a fruit trader at College Gate market, said: "I bought some jackfruit at College Gate, and more that I bought is kept at Fishery Ghat. I will take them all to Chattogram together by truck."

Farmer Ratna Chakma said: "There are several mango trees beside my house. I picked mangoes there yesterday and came to sell them at the market today."

Another seller, Prova Chakma, told Jagonews: "I had planted a number of mango and litchi trees near my house, and they have fruited very well this year. I came to sell the mangoes and litchis, and sales are going well."

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