As the Bangla month of ‘Jaistha’, commonly known as ‘Modhumash’ (honey month), is just a day away, juicy fruit litchi has started appearing in the markets in a limited scale. However, due to its less quantity, the present price of the fruit is very high. According to fruit sellers, said the local varieties of litchi have started appearing in the markets. The Bombay variety is expected to come to the markets within the next couple of weeks while another popular variety, China-3 (hybrid) will start appearing the markets at the later part of the month.
Many other seasonal fruits like mango and jackfruit will also hit market abundantly by mid June. Many seasonal traders have set up makeshift shops at different points in the capital city with the eye-catching fruit. In advent of the season, the every bunch of 100 litchis is being sold at Tk 550 to 700 based on quality and size.
The sellers said the price is high as the supply is scanty but the price will be reduced to some extent when the supply will be enhanced within the next couple of days. According to agriculturalists, litchi grows well in Rajshahi and Dinajpur districts. But, the litchi of Ishwardi is very delicious and famous across the country. Sonargaon in the capital’s outskirt is also famous for litchi.
High price of the fruit has attracted farmers of many other parts of the country to grow high yielding China-3, Bombay and Madrazi variety litchis. They are also being cultivated on homestead lands. According to Department of Agriculture sources, many people have become self-reliant by cultivating litchi in recent years. They said there are hundreds of litchi orchards on more than 1,000 hectares of land that produces huge yield which meet the local demand as well as being consigned to other parts of the country every year.
