DHANUSHA: As the production of Maldaha variety of mangoes in Madhesh Province has decreased its price has doubled in the market.

However, farmers have expressed dissatisfaction saying that they are not getting a fair price for their product. As a result, they have demanded cold storage, processing and effective market management.

Two weeks ago, two and a half kg of mangoes were being sold for Rs 100, but now one kilogram of mangoes costs Rs 100. Farmers complain that traders have increased the price as Maldaha mangoes are running out in farmers’ gardens.

Farmer Umesh Yadav of Kshireshwornath Municipality-1 of Dhanusha said that despite the increase in market price farmers have not benefited from it. Effective market monitoring and price management are necessary as mangoes purchased cheaply from farmers are being sold at high prices in the market.

Dhaniklal Mahato, a farmer from Mithila Municipality, said that since paddy transplantation has started farmers are forced to sell mangoes from their gardens on time and traders are taking advantage of this situation and buying them at low prices.

Farmers are not getting a fair price for their produce due to the lack of cold storage, processing centers and organized markets, he added. The government should ensure the price of the produce.

According to mango traders, Bombay variety of mangoes has almost vanished from the market, while Maldaha mangoes will be available for only about the next 10 days. After that, kalkatta and Amrapali varieties of mangoes will come to the market.