Amzad Hossain Shimul, Rajshahi
Trading of mangoes through online has gained momentum in Rajshahi division benefitting both the sellers and buyers facing Covid-19 pandemic.
Farmers and traders have started harvesting mangoes Gopalbhog, Himsagar and Langra, Lakhna varieties of mangoes after getting instruction from the district administration while some other indigenous varieties have ripened naturally.
Maksud Alom, a wholesale trader said, Langra and Himsagar mangoes are being sold at Tk 2,000 to 2,200 per maund depending on quality while the native varieties are sold at Tk 1,600 to 2,000.
Mangoes are being sent to many places in the country, including capital Dhaka from Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj by passenger coaches, trains, trucks and private vehicles every day.
Many of the young entrepreneurs in the region have started selling the fruit through online by using Facebook and WhatsApp like various social media.
Mangoes are also being sold through live sessions on Facebook, Messenger, Imo and WhatsApp.
At least 200 students of several educational institutions, including Rajshahi University, started the business on June 15 at the field of Baneswar Degree College. Every day, Tk 1 crore of mangoes are sold at the market, traders said. The business will continue till July 30.
Upon taking orders online, they collect mangos from the garden, pack them there and deliver them to the customers through courier service.
According to sources of Women & e-Commerce Forum (WE), at least 175 entrepreneurs are involved with the business in the region.
Manu Mohan Bappa, a student of Fine Arts of Rajshahi University (RU), admin of Rainbow Mango Station, said he sold 250 maund mangoes through online since May 15.
Niloy Hasan, a member of Rajshahi Mango Paradise Public Group, said after getting online orders, they pluck mango from the orchards-- packaging on the spot and finally sending those to the clients through courier
services.
He sold around 15 tonnes of mangoes in different parts of the country through the Facebook page in last two weeks.
Niloy added he was getting massive responses from his Facebook friends and followers in this regard.
KJM Abdul Awal, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Rajshhai district, said the business has gained popularity on online platforms taking the mangoes to the doorsteps of the buyers amid the pandemic situation.
“Many of the young entrepreneurs in the region are selling mangoes online using Facebook and WhatsApp. It, on one hand, generated employment opportunities for many youths, and, on the other hand, helped growers getting a fair price,” he said.
“Apart from this, the consumers are getting formalin-free and fresh mango according to their demands timely,” he added.
Sirajul Islam, additional director of DAE, said there are more than 2.60 lakh mango growers and orchard owners in the region comprising Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore and Naogaon districts.
Around 1.30 lakh people are engaged in various activities related to mango harvesting, segregating, packaging, transporting and marketing.
He added that the DAE has set a target of harvesting around 10 lakh tonnes of mangoes from 80,360 hectares of land in the region this season while last year’s production was 8,31,940 tonnes from 72,909 hectares of land.
