কলা (banana): Joypurhat's Durgadah market trades lakhs of taka daily, but falling prices worry farmers

For anyone searching কলা (banana) today, the story is in Joypurhat: the Durgadah market has become one of the biggest banana trading hubs in northern Bangladesh. Bananas worth lakhs of taka change hands there from dawn every day, and trucks carry them on to Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar. But prices have fallen sharply over the past two weeks, leaving farmers worried.

Today, Sunday 15 November, Prothom Alo and Star News each published a report on the market, and the Bangla word "কলা" has since been trending on Google in Bangladesh.

A market that starts at dawn

Trading at Durgadah begins early in the morning. Farmers and local traders bring bananas by various vehicles from Joypurhat and nearby districts such as Naogaon. Wholesale buyers from different parts of the country buy them there and load them onto trucks.

Dozens of trucks leave the market loaded with bananas every day. Prothom Alo put the number at 40-50, while a trader told Star News it was 30-40. They head for Dhaka, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and districts across the north.

Many livelihoods depend on the market: commission agents, wholesale buyers, truck drivers, the workers who load and unload the fruit, and small shops nearby.

How much is sold each day

There are two different estimates of the daily trade.

• The district agricultural marketing officer told Prothom Alo that about 48-50 lakh taka worth of bananas is sold each day.
• Local traders told Star News the figure is close to one crore taka a day.

So the official estimate is about half a crore taka, and traders claim double that. Either way, it is a large sum for a single market.

Prices down, costs up

Farmers say higher supply has pushed prices down. Their accounts in the two outlets are broadly the same:

• A lot that sold for 300-400 taka 10-15 days ago now goes for 200-250 taka.
• Even when they bring bananas to market, they cannot find enough buyers at the prices they expect.
• Rising transport costs and labour wages are cutting into their profits further.

In Prothom Alo's report, one farmer said 100 bananas that fetched 400 taka a few days earlier sold for 250 taka on 8 November.

Lack of space

Both reports highlight the market's shortage of space. Because the area is small, trucks, pickups and other vehicles struggle to get in and out, causing congestion and lost time. Traders also point to the lack of suitable roads and of a dedicated loading and unloading area.

More bananas being grown

According to the Joypurhat district agriculture office, about 700 hectares of land in the district were planted with bananas this year, and yields have been good. Farmers say the growth in cultivation has raised supply, and that is now putting pressure on prices.

What comes next

Traders and farmers want the market expanded, better roads for vehicles and better management. They fear that if fair prices are not secured during this slump, many farmers will end up with losses.

Sources

This report was prepared by cross-checking information published by Prothom Alo and Star News. Links to the sources are listed below.