Fruits rot, traders face loss as buyers decline during strict lockdown

Fruit growers and traders are being affected severely in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by the countrywide shutdown centering the corona virus pandemic.

Seasonal fruits including mangoes, jackfruits, pineapples and papayas are being wasted in orchards as the presence of customers decreases.

The main source of income in Khagrachhari Hill District is the seasonal fruits. The hilly lands here produce various varieties of mangoes including the best ‘Amrapali, Bari-4, Rangui’ of the country this season. Fruits from here including mangoes, jackfruit, pineapple, papaya and banana are supplied to different parts of the country.

However, this time no buyer or wholesaler is coming to the market due to the lockdown. Apart from that, there is a crisis in the transportation for workers and goods. Hence, the garden owners as well as the retailers are facing immense losses.

Every year traders buy fruits from more than two hundred small and large garden owners in the district. Thanks to the favourable weather, farmers and fruit growers maintain a bumper production.

However, as the fruit traders did not come from outside the district, the fruits are rotting in the orchards. Some sellers are struggling to get these seasonal fruits to market in the midst of the transport crisis. But because there are no buyers, they're obviously not getting their expected profit.

Divakar Chakma, president of the Khagrachhari Mango Owners' Association, said, "Many orchard owners here have planted mangoes with loans."

However, due to Corona, there has been concern about the marketing of fruits. Gardeners and local mango traders will face huge losses as they will not be able to take all seasonal fruits out to Dhaka, Chittagong and other districts like other years, ”he said.

Deputy Director of Agricultural Extension in Khagrachhari Mortuza Ali ensuring there will be no wastage said that steps will be taken to ensure that agricultural products are not wasted. Efforts are being made to take joint marketing initiatives by the government.

Reference : CHT Post