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<i>Woes of mango traders</i>

13 June 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Rabiul Hasan, Chapainawabganj

Mango traders long to see customers at Sadar Ghat market in Chapainawabganj. They blame import of low quality, low priced Indian mangoes for the situation.Photo: STAR

Mango traders in Chapainawabganj, the largest mango producing district in the country are making serious losses due to import of huge quantities of mangoes from India. According to Sonamasjid land port officials, at least 33 trucks of Indian mangoes made inroads into country in March, 186 trucks in April, 388 trucks in May and 211 trucks this month till June 10. Those mangoes cost around TK 15 a kg, while the local varieties are sold in the market between TK 40 and 60 per kg, sources said. While visiting the local markets, including Sadar Ghat and Kansat in the district, this correspondent found that the popular local varieties were hardly sold at prices upto the expectation of the traders. They were compelled to sell a maund of Gopal Bhogue at Tk 1800-1900, Khirshapat (Himsagar) at Tk 2000-2200, Langra Tk 2200-2500 and Guti varieties at Tk 1000-1400 only. Most mango traders alleged that due to consumption of low quality imported mangoes their business is now at stake. Asadullah and Rabbul Hossain, two traders at Sadar Ghat in the town said, this year they had expected higher prices due to less production of mangoes in the area. But import of low priced Indian mangoes in different parts of the country has turned their dream into nightmare. "If the import of low quality mangoes at such low prices continues, our investment will make no returns and the orchard owners may have to rethink about the trade," said Asadullah. Shafiqul Islam at Kansat Bazar in Shibgonj, the largest mango market in the district said the importers bring immature and low standard mangoes from India just for higher profit while the local traders count huge losses. Abu Bakkar Siddiqui of Kansat said, he leased a mango orchard this year for Tk 18 lakh. But till date he could recover only Tk 3 lakh and feared he might incur a loss of Tk 7 lakh. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials, about 22,300 hectares were marked as mango orchard in five upazilas in the district. DAE fixed a target of 1.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes this year, which is 53000 tonnes less than the previous year. However, the mango traders informed that the production was much less than the DAE target. Taking advantage of this the importers went for huge quantity of mango from India, they said. Nazrul Islam, president of district mango traders association admitted that the mango orchard owners and traders are making financial loss due to the import of Indian mangoes. "To save our industry we had requested the authorities not to allow mango import at least for three months from May to July every year," he said.