Durgadah haat lacks facilities despite daily banana trade worth crores

An estimated Tk1 crore worth of bananas is traded daily at Durgadah banana market in Joypurhat Sadar upazila, which draws farmers and traders from across the district and neighbouring areas, including Naogaon.

Trading begins early in the morning and continues until noon. Around 30 to 40 truckloads of bananas, along with smaller consignments carried by other vehicles, leave the market daily for Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Cox’s Bazar and other parts of the country.

Despite its growing commercial importance, the market lacks adequate infrastructure. Shortage of space, difficulties in vehicle movement and inadequate loading and unloading facilities cause regular problems for farmers and traders.

A visit to the market found farmers arranging bananas brought from their orchards, wholesalers negotiating prices and workers loading produce onto trucks. The daily trade supports not only agricultural marketing but also transport and labour activities. Local traders estimate that daily transactions amount to around Tk1 crore, although no official records are available to verify the figure.

Despite increased production and supply, farmers do not always get fair prices. Prices fall when market supply increases or demand from wholesalers declines. After meeting production costs, labour wages and transport expenses, farmers are often left with little profit.

Akkas Ali, a banana grower from Dogachhi area of the upazila, said he had sold a ghaur of bananas for Tk300–400 even 10 to 15 days ago, but the same quantity was now fetching only Tk200–250.

“Even after bringing bananas to the market, I am not finding enough wholesalers at the expected prices. Land preparation, fertiliser, pesticides, labour wages and transport all involve costs. When prices fall like this, it becomes difficult to recover the expenses and make a profit,” he said.

Farmers said bananas are perishable and cannot be stored for long. As a result, they often have to sell their produce at lower prices when they fail to find buyers offering the expected rates. They believe more wholesalers, an efficient marketing system and better transport facilities could help them secure better prices.

Azizul Islam, a banana trader from Ayma area of Panchbibi upazila, said he bought bananas from farmers' orchards early in the morning and brought them to Durgadah market. “Every day, 30 to 40 truckloads of bananas are sent from this market to different parts of the country. Transactions worth around Tk1 crore take place here daily. Yet facilities at the market have not improved in line with the scale of business,” he said.

Salah Uddin, a trader from Nanais village in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon, said Durgadah was one of the major banana markets in the northern region and attracted wholesalers from distant areas. “Because the market has limited space, trucks, bhutbhutis and pickups cannot enter and move around easily. Loading and unloading bananas also become difficult, wasting time and causing extra trouble for traders. Expanding the market and improving access for vehicles would help increase business,” he said.

Traders said expanding the market and improving its infrastructure would help farmers' produce reach markets across the country more quickly, while creating additional employment opportunities for labourers, drivers, loading and unloading workers and commission agents.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, bananas have been cultivated on around 700 hectares of land in Joypurhat this year. Good yields and the prospect of relatively higher returns have encouraged more farmers to take up banana cultivation. Durgadah market plays an important role in marketing the district's produce.

Abdul Baten, director of the Joypurhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the market made an important contribution to the agricultural economy and its commercial potential was growing.

“To make the most of this potential, the market needs more space, better vehicle movement facilities and suitable infrastructure for loading and unloading goods. Planned development would help generate greater commercial activity around the market, benefiting farmers, traders and workers alike,” he said.

Sadia Sultana, additional deputy director (horticulture) of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Joypurhat, said the district had recorded a good banana yield this year and more farmers were becoming interested in cultivation because of its profitability. She said bananas had been cultivated on around 700 hectares in the district this year, adding that the establishment of the Durgadah market had made it easier for local farmers and traders to market their produce. The agriculture department regularly provides farmers with advice and necessary support to increase production and adopt modern cultivation methods, she added.