1,500cr mango trade likely in Naogaon

 
The mango market in different upazilas under Naogaon district has started to get momentum with a huge quantity of quality mangoes and mango growers are expecting to trade mangoes worth Tk 1,500 crore.

The district is famous for mango production and mangoes of the area are very tasty and sweet.

However, mango traders and mango growers in Naogaon are in crisis due to lockdown and corona virus. Due to the lockdown, the cars and workers of Mango Transport are not able to come in time.

It is learned that Sapahar, Porsha, Niamatpur and part of Patnitala upazila of Naogaon are known as Barind area of the district. Earlier, paddy was only the one crop in these areas. The farmers of this region are inclined towards mango cultivation as it is profitable. Arpali, Gopalbhog, Fazli, Khirsapat, Langra, Himsagar, Haribhanga, Ashwina, jhinuk, Bari-4 and Guti varieties of mango are being produced there.

The shape and size of the mango here is not only beautiful and attractive to look at; it is also delicious to eat. As mango cultivation is a very lucrative crop, people have shifted from paddy cultivation to mango cultivation at a higher rate. This district has now surpassed Chapainawabganj district. More than three hundred seasonal mango warehouses are established in Porsha and Sapahar upazilas from where mangoes are supplied to different districts including Dhaka. According to the District Agriculture Extension Department, there are mango orchards in 25,850 hectares of land in the district this season. Last year it was on 24,775 hectares of land.

The amount of mango orchards based in the upazila is 440 hectares in Sadar upazila, 35 hectares in Raninagar, 120 hectares in Atrai, 335 hectares in Badalgachhi, 625 hectares in Mahadevpur, 3,015 hectares in Patnitala, 675 hectares in Dhamairhat, 8 thousand 525 hectares in Sapahar, 10,550 hectares in Porsha, 400 hectares in Manda and 1,130 hectares in Niamatpur.

Ashadur Rahman, a mango farmer of Porsha upazila, said, "I have cultivated mango in 250 bighas of land. Him Sagar and Gopal Bhog have started unloading mangoes. People and cars cannot come because of the coronavirus."

"HimSagar is being sold at Tk 1500 to 1800 per mound. Gopalbhog makes 1200-1300 taka. Indigenous varieties are being sold at a price of 500-600 taka. Initially the price is fairly good. But the farmers would get better prices. Traders are unable to come from far and wide due to the lockdown. Besides, some are being sold through courier service with online order," Ashadur added. Kartik Saha, President of Sapahar Mango Producer Merchants Association, said, "Outside traders could not come on time due to the lockdown. For this reason, the price of mango is relatively low. It is being late to sell mangoes because of sending the traders after various tests. We are in the middle of fear. However, it is expected that the price will go up once the lockdown is over." Shamsul Wadud, Deputy Director of Naogaon District Agriculture Extension Department, said, "Mango has been cultivated in 25,850 hectares of land this season." Due to favorable weather and absent of hailstorm, mango growers have produced bumper yield. The target of mango production has been set at 3,10,200 metric tons this year."

Naogaon Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harun or Rashid said, "There is no restriction of coming transports and workers to the mango markets in the district. Now, the mango has not come to the market in full swing. Amrapali will come to the market after June 15. Amrapali mango is cultivated in about 70 percent lands. When Amrapali comes to the market, the mango trade will get a boost. There is no reason for fear in traders." He further said that, "Mango traders and farmers have been asked to immediately inform the upazila administration if there is any problem."

--- Lokman Ali in Naogaon