Infrastructure crisis at Joypurhat's Durgadaha banana market leaves farmers and traders struggling

The Durgadaha banana market in Joypurhat Sadar upazila has become one of the biggest centres for buying and selling bananas in the northern region. Bananas worth crores of taka are traded here every day.

From dawn each day, the market fills with the trade of thousands of bananas. Farmers and traders bring bananas here not only from different parts of the district but also from neighbouring districts. Wholesale traders buy these bananas, load them onto trucks and supply them to different parts of the country.

As morning arrives, the market comes alive. In places there are rows of banana piles, elsewhere bargaining is under way, and in other spots preparations are being made to load bananas onto trucks. Farmers and traders have brought some raw bananas and some ripe bananas ready for sale.

Bananas are not sold here by the bunch, but per 100 pieces. Apart from local wholesalers, wholesalers from different parts of the country buy these bananas and carry them to their destinations by truck, pickup and other vehicles.

Local traders say that every day, 30 to 35 trucks and other vehicles carry huge quantities of bananas from here to markets across the country. Bananas from Durgadaha go to Dhaka, Noakhali, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and various districts of the northern region.

As a result, it is not only banana farmers and traders who earn a living around this market, but also labourers, transport drivers, loading and unloading workers and commission agents.

However, although the supply and sale of bananas in the market have increased, farmers do not always get the price they expect. As banana prices fall within a few days or weeks, the profit often shrinks after deducting production and transport costs.

Ahidul Islam of Bara Majhipara in Sadar upazila said, 'Even 10 days ago I sold every 100 bananas for 400 taka. Now the same bananas have to be sold for 250 taka. Even after bringing bananas to the market, I cannot find wholesalers as expected. I am struggling to recover the production cost.'

On the other hand, because the market space is narrow, traders constantly face problems with vehicles entering, bananas being loaded and unloaded, and goods being transported.

Niranjan Chandra of Nalukabari village in Badalgachhi upazila, Naogaon, said, 'Durgadaha is one of the biggest banana markets in the northern region. Wholesalers come from far and wide to buy bananas here. But because the market space is small, trucks, bhotbhotis and pickups cannot enter properly. As a result, time is wasted in loading, unloading and transporting bananas. If the market space is expanded and arrangements are made for vehicle movement, business will grow further.'

Local banana trader Saiful Islam said, 'Bananas are bought from farmers' gardens in the morning and brought to the Durgadaha market. Sagar, Malbhog and Champa bananas are traded in this market. But the supply of Champa bananas is the highest. Every day, bananas are sent to different parts of the country in 30 to 35 trucks from this market.'

Banana trader Lutfor Rahman said, 'This time the banana yield has been good, so supply is higher, and transport costs have risen because fuel prices have gone up, which is why banana prices are low this time.'

According to the agriculture department, about 700 hectares of land in Joypurhat district have been brought under banana cultivation this year. As the yield is good and there is a prospect of comparatively better profit, the area under banana cultivation in the district is increasing.

Manju Alam Sarkar, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Joypurhat, said, 'This year the banana yield has been good. As it is profitable, farmers' interest in banana cultivation is growing. This year, bananas have been cultivated on 700 hectares of land in the district. With the Durgadaha banana market established, local farmers and traders can easily market their produce. The agriculture department regularly provides advice and necessary support to farmers to increase production and adopt modern cultivation.'

According to those concerned, the market needs its space expanded, facilities for vehicle movement, and infrastructure suitable for loading and unloading goods. If the necessary development is carried out, this banana market in Durgadaha will become an even more important centre for marketing agricultural products in the northern region, not just in Joypurhat.