Various fruits are sold throughout the year at the floating market at Samata Ghat in Banarupa, Rangamati. Rows of boats are loaded with pineapples. The entire market is bustling with the clamor of buyers and sellers. Farmers bring their fruits directly to this market by boat. Currently, pineapples are being sold the most at this market. Traders are going around buying pineapples.
According to the Agriculture Department, pineapples have been cultivated on 2,245 hectares of land in Rangamati this year. The production target has been set at 58,000 metric tons.
However, the pineapples that were sold at 20 to 45 taka depending on the size in the first market of Ramadan have now come down to 10 to 28 taka. This has disappointed the farmers.
Subir Chakma, a farmer from Bandukbhanga, said, "I sold 100 pineapples at Tk 4,500 in the last market. In a week, that price has decreased by Tk 2,800. That is, the price of 100 pineapples has decreased by Tk 1,700. The wages of workers and boat rent have not decreased. Selling at this price does not increase the cost of production." But as fertilizer, transportation and labor costs have increased, it has become difficult to make a profit.
Imran, a businessman from Chittagong, said that the demand for pineapples is low at present. The price at which pineapples are being sold in the wholesale market in Rangamati is almost the same in the retail market.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Moniruzzaman said that farmers in Rangamati cultivate pineapples in a planned manner. As a result, pineapples are available almost all year round. Many farmers have produced more pineapples in view of Ramadan. However, the price has decreased due to low demand in the winter season. He also said that it is not consistent to buy at a low price from the wholesale market and sell at a higher price in the retail market.