Mango farmers, traders fear loss as lockdown continues

Mangoes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj are known for their distinct taste like no other and they are favored over any other variety at home and abroad. Mango farmers this year are expecting a good harvest as the pick off season nears. But the nationwide shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus is likely to cause them some damage if the situation does not improve.

Farmers fear they won’t be able to transport their fruits to markets due to transport shortages. They fear they will lose markets in Europe and other parts of the world if the situation continues for another stretch.

Farmers in Rajshahi say their yield will be much lower this season, which is of a thousand crore taka usually, if the situation does not get better. Mango trading keeps Rajshahi’s economy rolling during the season every year, but this year sitting idle is what the traders are reduced to.

According to the local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), there are mango farms across 17,578 hectare of land in Rajshahi which is likely to yield around 2 lakh 93, 78 metric ton of mango this year. The figure was 2 lakh 13, 426 metric ton the previous year for 17, 465 hectare of land.

Farmers in Charghat and Bagha say they usually sell their fruits this season but this time around they haven’t started till now. They fear they won’t get proper price for their fruits even when the crisis ends.

Most numbers of mango orchards in Rajshahi are situated in Bagha upazila. One of the farmers, Aminul Islam said, this year their trees bore good amount of food but they are wary of the current situation in the country and worldwide. He said there is a growing fear among farmers that their fruits will rot in the tree itself. Another farmer named Jewel Rana said there is more mango orchard than rice fields in his locality because mango is more profitable. He wants the government to intervene in ending this deadlock or else he fears farmers will face a huge loss.

Even the traders are wary of their businesses this year. Many have loans against their advance purchase of mangoes. But business is not usual this year. Trader Afsar Ali says: “We purchase orchards in advance and we have to spend a huge amount to nurture the trees thereafter. We will be in a total loss if we can’t sell our mangos.”

Bangladeshi mangoes are now being exported to various countries in the Europe. But the international market is also stagnant at the moment due to a lockdown situation in most of the continent. Local traders fear they might not even be able to export their fruits to coronavirus hit Europe.

Principal scientific Official at Rajshahi Fruits Research Centre Dr Alim Uddin voices similar concern over transportation of mangoes. He says the variety of fruit goes every corner of the country each year but this year things are different. He said traders and farmers in Puthia have been instructed to set up market by maintaining social distancing. 

Local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) official Md Shamsul Hoque said a total of 37 tons of mango was exported to Europe last year. They have a target of 50 tons this year which they want to start once the situation improves.

Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Md Hamidul Huq said an official of the DAE is doing homework on how to market mangoes during corona crisis. He said they are planning for a way out to maintain social distancing while marketing mangoes. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNOs) in all the upazilas have already been informed in this regard, he added.

Farmers and traders in Chapainawabganj are also in fear of incurring losses this year. The authorities however expect an yield of 2 lakh 39 thousand metric ton of mango from the district this year.

Owner of one of the orchards in Chapainawabganj, Habibur Rahman, said trades usually start as soon as buds come out in mango trees but this year that did not happen. He said that many farmers have even stopped nurturing their gardens for fear of eminent loss.

/nm/