Litchis of different varieties grown in Dinajpur district have started appearing in local markets but their prices are high due to low supply.
The juicy summer fruit, including Madraji and Bombay varieties, is now being sold at New Market in Dinajpur town from morning to 9:00pm every day. Although the buyers are not happy, litchi farmers and traders are pleased with the high prices amid low production of the fruit.
While visiting New Market area in the district town, this correspondent found that 1,000 Madraji litchis are being sold for Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,000. On the other hand, Bedana litchi is being sold for Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 per thousand.
Litchi farmers and traders said the price of litchi is high from the beginning of this season. The summer fruit is being sold Tk 700-800 higher per thousand this year compared to the last year. The production of litchi is very low in some parts of the district. Besides, litchi buds have dropped due to the intense heat wave this year. As cracks are now appearing in the litchis, many farmers have started harvesting litchis and bringing it to the market in advance, they said.
On Wednesday, Abdus Salam bought 200 Madraji litchis from New Market for Tk 600. “After eating a couple of litchis, I have found that they are a bit sour. If these litchis are brought to the market a week later, it would have tasted fine. But I have to buy the fruit for my grandchildren,” he said.
Litchi trader Keramat Ali said, “The season has just started. Litchis of Dinajpur are sent to different parts of the country by courier. Sale hasn’t begun in such way yet. Those who have fruits on their trees will get a good price this time. Last time, the heat wave caused losses to litchi growers. If the temperature remains the same this time, then there is no escape. There are many traders, who have bought orchards and entered contracts with litchi farmers for five years. If the loss of litchi due to heat wave is high, then there will be no limit to the loss.”
Sources in the District Agriculture Extension Department said litchi has been cultivated on 5,489 hectares of land in the district. Of them, Bombay variety of litchi is cultivated on 3,238 hectares of land, Madraji on 1,078 hectares, China Three on 707 hectares, Bedana on 310 hectares, China Two on 132 hectares and Kanthali variety on 24 hectares of land in the district. This time the target for litchi production has been fixed at 32,117 metric tons. In the last several days, this correspondent visited different litchi gardens in Ulipur, Masimpur, Auliapur and Mohabbatpur areas under Sadar upazila; and Madhabbati and Robipur areas of Birol Upazila, and found that most of the Madraji and Bedana trees have low yield there. Some trees have no fruit at all. A couple of trees have fruits while the fruits of some trees have started falling.
Litchi grown in Dinajpur, which has a distinct reputation for the juicy summer fruit, has a high demand among the consumers across the country due to its taste and juicy flavour.
Of different varieties of lychees grown in the district, Bedana lychee is larger in size than other litchi varieties.
People usually wait for this fruit variety during the litchi season for its special aroma and taste.
However, the farmers in Dinajpur still fear losses as the excessive heat wave is posing a threat to the litchis in trees.
