Amchur brightens women's life
Many women in the mango capital of the country have improved their livelihood, earning money from dried slices of green mango, locally called amchur.
Making amchur in Shibganj upazila of the district from green mango increasing day by day as it is not only used as curry, but also has commercial value.
Making amchur is a way of preserving mango.
Taslima Begum of Saharatala village makes the item in her leisure time to earn additional income for her family. Like her, several hundred women, including school and college girls, are making amchur to improve their livelihood.
Ziary Begum of Jalmachhmari village said she has already sold amchur worth Tk 1,000 this season and expects to earn Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 more.
Trisha Khatun of the same area said she makes amchur after attending school.
They sell the item for Tk 25 to Tk 30 per kg.
The people are known for their skill in the art of making delicacies like amchur, said Nurunnesa, a housewife.
Sheuli Khatun of Chowdhuripara village said their children pick green mangoes from the orchards. Then they peel the mangoes, cut them into small pieces and dry them in the sun. Later, they sell them to hawkers, who collect the amchur from door to door. The hawkers sell it at Kansat wholesale market.
Ariful Islam, a wholesaler at Kansat-Gopalnagar intersection, said some hawkers bring the dried mango slices to the warehouses, around 30 kilometres from the district town. He said three other wholesalers are engaged in this trade in the area.
He sends the amchur to Dhaka and Chittagong, he said, adding that he makes a handsome profit every season out of it.
Regional Horticulture Research Station Senior Scientific Officer Dr Sorofuddin said the women involved in the business are bringing financial benefits for their families through amchur.
Businessmen should set up small-scale industries for making amchur, thus helping poor women as well as improving the quality of this loved delicacy.
Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Manzurul Huda said 2.40 lakh tonnes of mangoes are expected from 19 lakh mango trees on 26,150 hectares of land in the district.
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