Mango growers in Chuadanga have expressed deep disappointment as prices have crashed significantly at the very beginning of season.
Although the official collection of mangoes across the four upazilas of the district commenced on 5 May, prices have fallen sharply within just one month.
Farmers are now worried about whether they will be able to recover their production costs.
According to the growers, the cost of fertilisers, pesticides, and general maintenance has increased by several thousand Taka this year. Despite these rising expenses, they are not receiving a fair price in the market.
Last year, Himsagar mangoes were sold for between Tk2,000 and Tk2,200 per maund; however, this year, the price for the same variety has dropped to only Tk1,000 to Tk1,300 per maund.
Wholesalers and traders attributed the price decline to a lack of fruit maturity and an oversupply in the market.
They noted that because harvesting began almost simultaneously in districts such as Satkhira, Rajshahi, and Chuadanga, a massive volume of mangoes reached the market at once, causing demand to weaken.
Local traders and wholesalers suggested that if staggered harvest dates were established for different districts, the balance of supply could be maintained, allowing farmers to obtain better prices.
Farmers have warned that if the current market situation continues, they will face substantial financial losses. There are also concerns that many growers may lose interest in mango cultivation next year due to the ongoing crisis.
Masudur Rahman Sarkar, the deputy director of Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), stated that mangoes have been cultivated on 2,203 hectares of land in the district this year.
The total production target has been set at 30,697 metric tonnes.
He added that the authorities are currently monitoring the market situation to protect the interests of the farmers.
