Sharp rise in litchi price as harvest nearing completion

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BSS ,Rangpur :
Supply of litchi to local markets marked reduction as harvest of the seasonal fruit litchi is nearing completion now with sharp rise of price everywhere in Rangpur division, officials and market sources said.
The litchi growers as well as traders expressed satisfaction over bumper production of the most popular fruit as its harvest is expected to end by the next week end amid excellent business this time.
According to sources in the big litchi markets, supply of the most delicious, fleshy, juicy and tasty seasonal fruit has been reducing fast as harvest of litchi is nearing completion now.
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 400 and 500 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 has now jumped to Taka 1,100.
Prices of China-3 variety litchi jumped to Taka 650 per every 100 pieces now with minimum supply and the fruit will disappear totally from the markets within the next few days.
Besides, the less popular ‘Kanthali’ variety litchi are also available at some places now are Taka 400 per every 100 pieces, said litchi trader Babu Mian and Fazlul Haque at Rangpur City Bazar Market.
After making pleasant business this season, the litchi traders, who came from Dhaka, Munshiganj, Tangail and other places, are now preparing to return from the region, local market sources and litchi traders said.
Litchi growers Aminul Haque, Mahbub Ali, Shamsul Haque, Solaiman Ali and Mukul Chandra of different areas said they achieved bumper production of litchi and earned excellent profits this year.
Talking to BSS today, Horticulture specialist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at its regional office here said the farmers have achieved bumper litchi production this year in the region.
“The farmers have cultivated litchi in over 1,000 small, medium and big-sized litchi orchards and homesteads on around 7,000 hectares of land in all eight districts under Rangpur division this year,” he added.
The farmers have cultivated Bedana, China-3, Bombay, Madrazi, Mozaffarpuri and Kanthali varieties litchi in 667 orchards on 4,100 hectares of land this season alone in Dinajpur district that produces the highest quantity of the fruit in the country.
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