B Mirror Report:  Mango prices are increasing significantly as the fruit moves from wholesale markets in Rajshahi to retail outlets in Dhaka, with transportation, packaging costs and intermediary profits contributing to the widening price gap.

At Baneshwar Mango Market, the largest mango trading hub in Rajshahi’s Puthia upazila, Amrapali mangoes are currently selling for Tk 40-50 per kilogram. The same variety is being sold for Tk 60-70 per kilogram in Rajshahi city and Tk 80-90 per kilogram in Dhaka.

Wholesale traders said Amrapali mangoes are selling at Tk 1,600-2,000 per maund (around 40 kilograms), while Himsagar (Khirsapat) mangoes are priced at Tk 1,300-1,600 per maund and Gopalbhog mangoes at Tk 1,000-1,400 per maund.

In Rajshahi city markets, however, Himsagar mangoes are retailing at around Tk 60 per kilogram, while Gopalbhog mangoes are selling between Tk 45 and Tk 70 per kilogram, depending on the location.

Retailers said the price increases are largely driven by transportation and packaging costs. Traders estimate that packaging expenses add around Tk 300 per maund, while courier and transport charges increase costs by another Tk 12-13 per kilogram. Additional margins taken by wholesalers and retailers further raise prices before the fruit reaches consumers.

Consumers in Rajshahi noted that buying directly from wholesale markets remains cheaper, although travel costs and time often make city markets a more convenient option.

Traders also said prices rise further in Dhaka, where many mango varieties from Rajshahi are currently being sold at Tk 80-90 per kilogram, with some premium varieties fetching even higher prices.

Shamsuzzaman Khan, who planned to send mangoes from Baneshwar to relatives in Dhaka, said mangoes are significantly cheaper at the source market than in urban retail outlets. He noted that the same mangoes often sell for Tk 20-30 more per kilogram in Rajshahi city and even higher in the capital.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, mangoes have been cultivated on 19,062 hectares of land in Rajshahi this season, with a production target of 243,793 metric tons. Officials expect a bumper harvest this year due to favorable weather conditions and regular field-level support for growers.

Rajshahi Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Mohammad Nasir Uddin said mango production is expected to surpass last year’s output and warned that market prices could continue to rise in the coming weeks following Eid-ul-Azha.