Naogaon in the north has earned a special reputation for mango production, and a huge mango market has grown up at Sapahar in the district. Along with farmers, people in many other trades have changed their fortunes thanks to mangoes.

At Sapahar mango market on Friday, 26 July, growers were seen bringing mangoes from different areas on about 1,800 to 2,000 vans and auto-vans. This saves the growers time and has improved the drivers' finances.

Mansur Ali, driver of a battery-powered auto-van from Amoir village in Porsha upazila, said there are many orchards in his area, so demand for hire is heavy. He tries to bring mangoes to the market twice a day and gets Tk 1,000 to 1,200 a trip. Altogether, he earns Tk 1.2 lakh to Tk 1.5 lakh in fares in the mango season.

He added that he saved his earnings from driving and leased 5 bighas of land for 12 years, where he has planted his own mango orchard. The orchard has started bringing in money too. All in all, he is better off than before.

Another van driver carrying mangoes, Azam Ali of Jamalpur village in Sadar union of Sapahar upazila, said he never has to sit idle in the mango season and the fares are good. Last year he earned Tk 85,000 in fares. This year he has so far earned about Tk 40,000 to 45,000 and may earn another Tk 15,000 to 20,000 by the end of the season. Because of heavy traffic jams at the market this year, after bringing one trip he cannot manage another. Coming in the morning and selling the mangoes, it is 3 to 4pm before he can get out of the market. Because he cannot make a second trip, he may earn Tk 15,000 to 20,000 less this year, he said, though he is much better off than before.

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