A century-old floating vegetable market in Gajalia Union of Kachua upazila in Bagerhat has become a major trading hub for farmers, with vegetables worth around Tk20-25 lakh sold in just four hours on each market day.
The market, held every Sunday and Wednesday on the Gajalia Canal, sees seasonal transactions of nearly Tk4 crore.
Rows of boats loaded with fresh cucumbers, bottle gourds, bitter gourds, ash gourds, pumpkins, ridge gourds and yardlong beans gather on the canal from early morning. Farmers sell their produce directly to wholesalers, who come from Bagerhat and neighbouring districts.
Wholesalers from Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna and Chandpur also visit the market by boats and trawlers to purchase vegetables in bulk.
The floating market continues to preserve a traditional form of river-based commerce that was once common across rural Bangladesh.
Local traders said farmers from surrounding villages bring their produce by boat soon after dawn. They anchor along the canal and begin trading, with the number of boats increasing as the morning progresses.
By mid-morning, rows of boats stretch across the canal, with farmers and traders conducting transactions directly from the vessels.
Farmers said selling directly to wholesalers allows them to secure better prices and sell their produce quickly, reducing the risk of spoilage.
Salam Haladar, a trader from Pirojpur, said the market offers a wide range of fresh vegetables in one place.
“We can buy vegetables directly from farmers and collect large quantities at the same time. We then take them to markets in Pirojpur and other areas,” he said.
Sultan Sheikh, a trader from Barishal, said the regular presence of farmers makes it possible to purchase large quantities within a short period.
“Trading starts early in the morning and large transactions are completed within a few hours. If communication facilities improve, the volume of business could increase significantly,” he said.
Local residents said the market has been operating on the Gajalia Canal for more than 100 years. Generations of farmers have relied on it to sell vegetables grown on their land.
Rajjak Molla, a local farmer, said he brings vegetables to the market by boat on market days.
“Wholesalers buy directly from us, so our produce is sold quickly and transportation costs are relatively low. Without this market, we would have to travel to distant markets, which would cause us much more trouble,” he said.
However, poor infrastructure remains a major challenge for the market.
The road leading to the market is in poor condition, while there are no designated facilities for boats and trawlers to anchor. Farmers and traders face additional difficulties during the monsoon.
Abdullah Al Mamun, a local resident, said the market could expand significantly if basic infrastructure were improved.
“There is no proper arrangement for anchoring boats and trawlers. The road is also in poor condition. Facilities for loading and unloading goods and better market management could increase trading several times,” he said.
Mohammad Motahar Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bagerhat, said the floating market plays an important role in the local agricultural economy.
“Farmers can quickly sell their produce to wholesalers, while consumers in different areas get fresh vegetables without much delay,” he said.
He acknowledged the market's infrastructural shortcomings and said steps would be taken to address them.
The Department of Agricultural Extension is also encouraging farmers to adopt modern cultivation technologies and working to improve vegetable marketing, he added.
With improved roads, dedicated docking facilities, better loading and unloading arrangements, and stronger market management, the century-old Gajalia floating vegetable market could develop into one of the major vegetable distribution centres in southwestern Bangladesh.