Harvest of the most delicious, juicy and fleshy seasonal fruit litchi is nearing completion with sharp rise of price as also a sequel to comparatively less production this season everywhere in northern districts, officials, farmers and market sources said.
The litchi growers as well as the traders expressed dissatisfaction over inadequate production with lower quality of the most popular fruit due to drought-like condition as its harvest is expected to end by the next week amid moderate business this time.
According to sources in the big litchi markets, supply of the tasty seasonal fruit has been reducing fast now as harvest of the local varieties and high quality Bedana and Madrazi litchi was completed last week.
At the initial stage of harvest, every 100 pieces of the local variety litchi were sold between Taka 180 and 200 and the Madrazi, Bombay and China were sold between Taka 350 and 450 till end of May last when the price started rising.
At the last moment of harvest, the price of 100 pieces of the aristocrat Bedana variety of litchi jumped to Taka 1200. Bedana variety was selling between Taka 600 and Taka 750 per 100 pieces at the initial stage of its harvest few weeks back.
Prices of the currently available Bombay and China-3 variety litchi jumped to Taka 500 and Taka 800 per every 100 pieces depending on the quality now with minimum supply and the fruit will disappear totally from the markets within the next few days.
Besides, the less popular ‘Kanthali’ and China-2 variety litchi are also available at some places now with prices between Taka 350 and 450 per every 100 pieces, said litchi trader Fazlul Haque at Rangpur City Bazar Market this afternoon.
After making their moderate business this season, the litchi traders, who came from different areas of the country including Dhaka, Munshiganj, Tangail and other places, are now preparing to return from the region, market sources and litchi traders said.
According to sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the prolonged drought-like situation badly affected growth of the tender litchi during the month of last April ultimately affecting quality of the seasonal fruit.
As a result, the harvested litchis were not fleshy enough and lower production triggered higher price of the fruit amid huge market demand this season, said Horticulture specialist Khandaker Md Mesbahul Islam.
