Bitter gourd trading is in full swing at a wholesale market in Khetlal, Joypurhat, where growers sell straight from the field at good prices.

Traders come from far away, which keeps the price up and leaves local growers better off on every count.

The market at Bakhera Komolgari village in Khetlal has been running for about fifteen years.

Farmers bring in gourds picked that morning; traders sort them into bags and crates and load them onto pickups.

The market's biggest advantage for farmers is that they no longer have to travel to a distant haat to sell.

The nearest haat, at Chaumuhani, is about three kilometres from Bakhera Komolgari, so both the journey and the transport cost are saved.

Small wholesale markets inside a village cut waste in perishable vegetables and leave a larger share of the price with the grower.

Source: Krishi Shomoy