Lockdown takes a toll on jackfruit traders
An age-old "Kathaler Haat", or jackfruit market, in Brahmanbazar area of Moulvibazar's Kulaura upazila is seeing poor sales this year as recent restrictions on public movement aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19 have kept buyers at bay.
Fewer customers have been able to visit the market due to a lack of transportation amid the recurring nationwide lockdowns, according to local traders.
The government enforced strict measures from the beginning of July to tame the rapid rise in coronavirus infections across the country. However, these restrictions were eased for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
The lockdown was then reinstated last Friday, with August 5 set as the end date.
In a time-honoured tradition that has endured longer than anyone can recall, the market would open twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.
When the market bustled with activity during the pre-pandemic era, it almost seemed like a bi-weekly homage to the market's grand heritage.
"My father has seen this market active since his childhood," said Moinul Islam, a resident of Brahmanbazar.
The market has grown over the years since it is now much easier to travel to the area thanks to improved connectivity.
Besides, it is currently the peak season for jackfruit sales but the pandemic has severely slowed business, he added.
In the pre-Covid times, thousands of people would turn up at the market to buy and sell jackfruits for Tk 30 to Tk 80 depending on its size.
"I earned a living by selling jackfruits here for the past few years but now I am in a crisis due to Covid-19," said Jasim Uddin of Dhamuli village in Kulaura upazila.
Another trader, Motiar Rahman, said the production rate at his orchard has improved since last season.
"I have 200 jackfruit trees in my orchard but customer turnout has been very low amid the pandemic," he added.
The market is quite profitable for wholesale buyers as one has to spend just Tk 3,000 to Tk 6,000 for a minimum purchase size of 100 jackfruits, according to trader Nazmul Hasan.
Following in his father's footsteps, Hasan has regularly visited the market for the past five years.
"Since the rate is cheap here, jackfruits bought in bulk can be sold for more money in other parts of the country," he said.
"But Covid has badly affected our business this year," Hasan added.
An average of up to 40,000 jackfruits were sold daily at the market depending on the time of the season, said Brahmanbazar local Mohammad Ali.
During the pre-Covid era, thousands of people arrived each day to buy jackfruits of all shapes and sizes.
This also benefited other nearby businesses, such a tea stall owned by Saber Mia.
"Those days were great for business as tea sales would triple during the peak season," Mia said, adding that he would wait all year for these profitable months.
According to Md Abdul Momin, an officer of the local agricultural department in Kulaura, there has been bumper jackfruit production across the upazila due to favourable weather conditions this year.
"Jackfruit cultivation is becoming increasingly popular and our department is supporting the industry's growth," he said.
Other than bearing delicious fruit, the jackfruit trees can be used to produce quality furniture.
So, there is no doubt that it is a profitable tree for farmers as it brings extra income at minimal expense, said Dilip Kumar Adhikari, additional director of the agricultural department in Sylhet.
Jackfruit orchards are a traditional endeavour for many families in the area that has been passed down through the generations.
That being the case, it can be expected that Brahmanbazar's iconic "Kathaler Haat" will remain a celebrated, thriving part of the local landscape for many years to come, he added.
Bangladesh bagged 10.17 lakh tonnes of jackfruit from 40,900 acres of land in fiscal 2019-20, down slightly from 10.35 lakh tonnes the previous year, as per data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Dhaka and Mymensingh are two main jackfruit growing divisions followed by Khulna and Chattogram.
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