Home ›› 08 Nov 2021 ›› Nation
Lack of cold storage and proper transportation facilities makes it difficult for the Pomelo growers and wholesalers in Rangamati to reap the benefit of a better yield of the citrus fruit this season.
Prices of the fruit in the wholesale market is also much lesser compared to the previous years, the growers said apprehending a massive loss this year.
Growing Pomelos ushered in a new hope among the farmers in ten upazilas of Rangamati, as the yield was good despite a low rainfall last monsoon.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rangamati, expect that this season’s yield of pomelos in Rangamati might earn the producers and vendors Tk 20 crore.
Low rainfall this monsoon caused a reduction in the size of the fruit.
The DAE officials said over 1,210 hectares of land in ten upazilas of Rangamati have been brought under pomelo cultivation during the August-September season. Pomelo produced in the hilly areas of Rangamati has a great demand across the country as it is naturally grown and sweeter than other varieties found in other areas, they said.
Producers from Sadar, Belaichhari, Baghaichhari, Barkal, Juraichhari, Rajasthali, Kaptai, Langadu, Naniarchar, and Kaukhali upazilas and Maini, Jurachhari, Subhlong, Marisshya areas of the district, arrives at the markets situated at Samataghat, and Poura Truck Terminal with their produce. Wholesalers and stockists distribute the fruit across the country, including Chattogram, Cumilla, and Dhaka.
The lack of cold storage in the district makes it difficult to store the perishable fruits, farmers said.
Every 1,000 pomelos are sold between Tk 5,000 to Tk 20,000 at the farmers’ end, the traders said.
The traders also said the cost of the fruit increases for transportation cost as they had to collect the fruits from the remote hilly areas where suitable transports are not available.
They also alleged that have to pay illegal tolls at the various points on the road.
A pomelo trader told The Business Post that although they had good production this year, they are not making expected profits for the high transportation costs.
The trader said law enforcers at every checkpoint demand Tk 500 from every truck. “We have to spend around Tk 8,000 for each trip we make with our fruit-laden truck,” he said.
Md Sohel, a pomelo trader in Rangamati, said this season the traders in Rangamati are supplying around 2 lakh pomelo across the country every day. The price of the fruit ranged between Tk 5 and Tk 20.
Deputy director of DAE, Rangamati, Krishna Prasad Mallick, told The Business Post that the farmers are getting 12 tonnes of pomelo per hectare.
“The production is good this year. We are providing training to the farmers so that they can make a better yield next season as well,” said the DAE official.
