Nestled in the hills of Khagrachari, the city market and Madhupur market have earned a special reputation among buyers for offering fresh mountain fruits and pesticide-free vegetables. Predominantly run by local hill women, these markets are a testament to their resilience and hard work.
 
Khagrachari June 20,(V7N)- Khagrachari's city market and Madhupur market are especially well-known among buyers as markets for fresh mountain fruits and pesticide-free vegetables. Among the sellers here, except for a handful of men, all are women. 
 
These women, who are poor hill women of Khagrachari, primarily sell vegetables in this market. During the season, various types of vegetables grown in the jhum (slash-and-burn) fields are sold here. Additionally, all year round, various fruits and vegetables sourced from nature can be found here. 
 
Hill women of Khagrachari displaying a variety of fresh, pesticide-free vegetables and fruits at the popular Madhupur market, renowned for its natural produce. Photo: Voice7 News
 
These extremely poor women collect vegetables from nature to bring to this market to sell, aiming to slightly alleviate their household struggles. Because these vegetables are free from pesticides, chemicals, and formalin, buyers especially flock to this Panichara Road Madhupur market every evening for fresh and pure vegetables.
 
The market is popularly known as Khagrachari Madhupur Market. It is best known among buyers as the market for fresh mountain fruits and pesticide-free vegetables. Although a few men are seen among the sellers here, the majority are women. 
 
Local women from Khagrachari selling fresh, pesticide-free vegetables and fruits at the vibrant Madhupur market, known for its natural and organic produce. Photo: Voice7 News
 
They come to sell various kinds of vegetables in the evening, collected in small amounts during their breaks from jhum farming or other work. From Thankuni leaves to banana flowers, bamboo shoots, taro stems, green and ripe papayas, mangoes, bananas, and many other items can be found here. Most of these are collected from nature.
 
Jibon Chakma (30), who was buying vegetables at Madhupur market, said, "Vegetables that use pesticides and fertilizers and are preserved with formalin do not taste good and are harmful to the body. That's why I buy my preferred vegetables from this market every day in small amounts." Not just people from the hill communities, but many from the Bengali community also buy from this market.
 
Vegetable seller Monipru Marma (40) said that she collects various types of vegetables from the hills and riverbanks all day and sells them in this market in the evening. She earns around TK 200 to 400 daily, which she said covers a significant part of her poor family's expenses.
 
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