Weekly sales worth Tk half a crore

Tangail Correspondent:

The market of jackfruit, national fruit of the country, is now booming in different local markets of Sakhipur upazila in the district. Jackfruit of the upazila worth about Taka half a crore is being sold to different districts of the country every week. This national fruit, which is sweet in taste and full of nutrients, is not only satisfying the taste buds, but also plays a role in health awareness and economy.

The role of jackfruit in aiding digestion, preventing dehydration, increasing immunity and controlling weight is immense.

In Sakhipur upazila of the district, known as the “Red soil hilly region”,

There is a jackfruit tree in the courtyard of almost every house. These trees produce a huge amount of jackfruit every year. The seasonal fruit “Jackfruit” is regularly sold at Kutubpur, Barachona, Kachua, Mahanandapur, Nalua, Taktarchala and Deodighi markets in Sakhipur upazila.

Of these, Kutubpur market has mainly transformed into a big market for jackfruit since the Bangla month of Jyishta where jackfruit worth about Taka 50 lakh is bought and sold every week.

Local farmers and traders bring jackfruit there. Talking to them, it was

learned that farmers and retail traders bring jackfruit to the market from the afternoon of the day before the market to the next day’s noon.

Then wholesalers buy them and send those to different districts across the country by truck.

Talking to locals, it was learned that Nalua market is on Thursday, Deodighi market on Monday, Taktarchala market on Saturday, Kachua market on Sunday and Wednesday, Barachona market on Monday and Thursday and Mahanandapur market on Tuesday.

Each market sells jackfruit for more than Taka 10-20 lakh a week. In total, jackfruit worth about Taka half a crore is being sold at the upazila every week.

Mubarak Hossain, a trader at Kutubpur Hat, told journalist that local farmers and retail traders collect jackfruit and bring those to different markets to sell. Some 15 to 20 trucks of jackfruit arrive at each market here. Wholesale traders buy them and send those to different districts across the country.

Local trader Abul Kalam said that they buy jackfruit from different villages of Sakhipur and sell it to wholesalers at the market. The price of each jackfruit ranges from Taka 30 to 80 depending on its size.

However, they make a profit of Taka 10 to 20 from each jackfruit.

Delwar Hossain, a trader at Kutubpur Hat, said that every year during the peak season, 15-20 trucks of jackfruit go to different districts of the

country from the upazila’s markets.

Rabbi Ahmed, a wholesale trader from Narayanganj in Dhaka, said he buys a truckload of jackfruit (about 2,000 pieces) from Sakhipur every week and sells those throughout the week.

Sakhipur Upazila Agriculture Officer Niyanta Barman said this year jackfruit has been cultivated on 850 hectares of land in Sakhipur upazila. It is possible to make a profit by cultivating jackfruit commercially here, he added.