With arrival of the Bangla month of Jyeshtha, commonly known as “modhumash” (honey month), lychees, the mouth-watering juicy fruit, have appeared in local markets of the region, including Rajshahi city, but the price is exorbitant.
Due to low supply of the seasonal fruit, the present price is beyond the purchasing capacity of the common people.
Local sources said that many seasonal traders have set up makeshift shops at different points, particularly at Shaheb Bazar, Bindurmore, Lakshmipur Bazar, Sheroil Bus Terminal, Railway Station and Court Bazar, displaying the eye-catching fruit.
At the start of the season, the fruit is being sold at Tk300 to 420 for every 100 piece, based on quality and size. But sales are not bad despite the high price, as affluent people are purchasing the costly fruit.
On seeing the new fruit this season, many people are tempted to purchase some, but many return empty handed after failing to synchronize their taste and buying capacity.
“Now, I don’t have the means to buy lychees as I wish as the price is too high. I have to wait for some days till the price comes down,” said Himu Khan, a resident of Upashahar, who came to Shaheb Bazar for buying lychees.
The sellers said the price is now high as supply is scanty, but it will be reduced when harvesting of the fruit increases within the next couple of days.
Sohrab Hossain at Shaheb Bazar said on Monday that many of the farmers are harvesting unripened lychees in a bid to make more money.
He claimed that the farmers are harvesting the fruit before fully ripening in the hope of more profit, and in apprehension of natural calamities.
Dr Alim Uddin, principal scientific officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Station, said the local varieties of litchi have started hitting the markets. But the Bombay variety is expected to appear later this month.
Many people are making profit by growing varieties, such as China-3 (hybrid), Bombay and Madras, which are the most popular in the region. Paba, Godagari, Charghat, Bagmara, Bagha, Puthia and Durgapur upazilas of the district are well-known for producing good quality lychees, he added.
Abdur Razzak of Kapasia village said he cultivated the fruit on one bigha of land this year. He hoped to make a good profit.
He also said commercial litchi farming has started at Raipara, Bhulanpur, Chhotobongram and Katakhali areas of the city.
Besides, lychees are also being cultivated at Baghmara, Durgapur, Puthia, Paba and Godagari upazilas of the district, he added.
Local farmers said they took great care of their litchi trees by spraying pesticides. Last year, many lychees were damaged due to storms and the farmers incurred heavy losses. But this year, they are hoping to recover their losses.
Abdul Wadud, deputy director of Agriculture Extension Department in Rajshahi, said, lychees have been cultivated on 490 hectares of land in Rajshahi. Some litchi flowers were destroyed by hail storms at the start of April, but overall, the weather has remained favourable for smooth growth of lychees.
He said commercial farming of some fruits, especially mangoes and lychees, is gradually being enhanced in the region.
