Jhenidah district has been getting the popularity for producing and marketing of palatable juicy fruits, especially, traditional local mangoes. Kotchandpur upazila has been playing a significant role in this ground when the most of the largest mango market was established at Diversion Road, at the entry point in the town.
Goplabhog, Lengra, Mohanbhog, Himsagar, Bomabi, Amrapalli and some other varieties are sold in the market which do not bear the stain of hazardous and poisonous chemical or preservatives at all.
But the mango orchard owners and farmers engaged in mango production had expressed their deep dissatisfaction over the unavailability of any cold store in the area that could protect the fruits and save the farmers from some certain loss a lot, while the market ensures Taka about 50 thousand as revenue everyday in the season.
Vendors of Kotchandpur fruit market informed that the producers from Kotchandpur, Jhenidah Sadar and Moheshpur of Jhenidah, Chuadanga and Jibannagar, Hasadh and Damurhuda of Chuadanga and Meherpur areas rush Kotchandpur fruit market everyday with their mangoes.
The mango vendors from Shailkupa, Harinakundu and Kaliganj from Jhenidah, Kushtia, Faridpur, Jashore and some other districts come to the market to purchase the same. Representatives of some juice producing companies also rush the mango orchards and market there.
Better road communications and railway services attract the people rushing at Kotchandpur town for the chemical-free mangoes, At least 100 trucks of mango for about Tk 2.5 crore is sold a day there, they said.
Abdul Latif, President of Kotchandpur Aam Babsayee Samity, said each maund of Lengra variety is sold at Taka 1,300 to 1,500, Hiumsagar at Taka 1,050 to 1,300, Bomabi at Taka 1,500 to 11,600 and Amrapali at Tala 1,200 to 1,300 now days.
Quoting other vendors, the business leader said each and every vendor is purchasing matured and chemical-free mango from the market as the local administration had earlier warned the mango orchards not to apply any harmful chemical, pesticides or health hazard materials on the plants.
Abdul Latif said as huge quantity of mango is rushed at the market during the season, the farmers cannot receive optimum prices. Sometimes huge quantity is rotten due to the unavailability of a cold store.
A cold store from the government’s corner might save the farmers that could help them preserving the rotten fruits. It could ensure more money for the producers, as well as ensure mango for another few months. The system might strengthen the socio-economic state of the mango producers, he expressed his desire.
Fruit vendor Alal Uddin of Bhanga Upazila in Faridpur when contacted at Kotchandpur market said they are pleased to see mature and chemical-free fruits this season that will ensure better prices for the vendors
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nazneen Sultana said since the beginning of the flowering of the mango at orchards, she warned the orchard owners to avoid hazard chemical like formalin. The producers had kept their words and ensuring chemical-free matured fruits for the consumers. It will ensure better prices for them, UNO said.
Saroj Kumr Nath, Deputy Commissioner in Jhenidah said they local administration has been showing zero tolerance in applying any hazard chemical in the fruits that ensured mature fruits like mango and litchi in the season. Consumers might enjoy the pure mango during the season. Mass awareness among the people might remove the application of health hazards chemicals like carbide and formalin, deputy commissioner said.