In the current season, the target of mango trade in Chapainawabganj district has been set at 2.5 thousand crore rupees. Last season, mangoes were cultivated on 37 thousand 165 hectares of land, but this time, mangoes were cultivated on 37 thousand 588 hectares of land. If the weather is favorable, the Department of Agriculture Extension expects to produce 4 lakh 25 thousand metric tons of mangoes. As there is no mango calendar in the current season, mangoes are being exported from Chapainawabganj to different countries including Dhaka.
Mango farmers and traders say: Dulal, a mango trader at Chapainawabganj District Shahneyamtullah College Market Bishwa Road intersection, said that in the current season (last 15), mango farmers are picking mangoes from the trees and selling them after the Gopal bhog has matured. He further said that Gopalbhog mangoes ripen early every season and are sold in the market. Due to the sweetness of this mango, the demand is increasing. He said, 40 kg is being sold at Tk 2,400 per head and is getting a good price. Mango farmers and traders said they are hoping to get better prices for other mangoes.
Chapainawabganj District Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Dr. Palash Sarkar said, there has been a good harvest of mangoes in Chapainawabganj district. Mango farmers are hoping to get good prices. Last season, 3 lakh 13 thousand metric tons of mangoes were produced in the district. Mangoes were traded with an estimated market value of 18 crore 7 lakh 80 thousand taka. A target of Tk 2.55 crore and 2.55 crore mango trade has been set for the current season.
Incidentally, last (May 3), Chapai Nawabganj District Commissioner AKM Ghaliv Khan said, “The demand of mango farmers, entrepreneurs and farmers will not be there this time. In this, mango growers can cut and market different varieties of mangoes from trees. This decision was taken when all the people involved in the mango industry, including mango experts, agreed not to fix the period for mango harvesting in the current year. Then last (May 15) in the discussion meeting regarding the transportation of mangoes, it was proposed to charge Tk 10 per kg for transporting mangoes from Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Naogaon to Dhaka at the same cost by courier service. Courier services have been asked to give their decision in this regard. Even after six days, the decision to charge 10 rupees to the courier services was not implemented. On Saturday, national daily Janbani correspondent asked Saidur Rahman, manager of Chapainawabganj Sundarban Courier Service, he said that like last year, mangoes are being charged 13 taka per kg from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka and 16 taka per kg outside Dhaka.
