Markets in the Moulvibazar district town have had a good supply of the popular summer fruit, litchi, this season and the price, which is lower in comparison with the previous season, has made customers happy.
According to retailers, it has been over a week since the mouth-watering fruit arrived in the markets and it is largely available at roadside stalls. 100 litchis are being sold for Tk100-150, a price that has decreased from the Tk220-250 range that it was sold for in the last season.
Street vendor Md Abdul Awal from Paschim Bazaar said the supply of the fruit is satisfactory this season and the price is also affordable. He hopes the markets will see more of the fruit within a week.
However, people from low-income households in rural areas and slums said the price is still too high for them.
“I have bought 50 lychees for Tk63 but the size of the fruit is smaller and cannot beat the taste of those grown in other parts of the country such as Rajshahi,” said Afia Khatun of the Gujarai village.
Barshijora, Sunapur, Kalenga, Baratola, Munshibazar, Shamshernagar and Kalachhara are some of the places in Moulvibazar that usually see a good yield of litchi.
Humayun Kabir, a litchi grower in the Baratola village, said the production was good this time but the size and thickness of the pulp suffered because of the drought-like situation that continued till April this year.
I have sold litchis worth Tk1.75 lakh in the wholesale market till now, he added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Moulvibazar Dr SM Ashrafuzzaman said, there are approximately 4,300 litchi trees in the area and almost 1,400 tonnes of litchis worth around Tk28 crore will be harvested this season.
The soil and climate of the district are favourable for litchi cultivation, he added.