Though bumper production of jackfruit has been achieved Jhenaidah, farmers are after all frustrated over extreme low price of the produce.
Farmers and fruit vendors blamed cheaper mango price and huge supply for the lower price and least demand of jackfruit.
They said that the price of the summer fruit was good in the early season this year and they were benefited when the wholesale buyers from Barishal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Faridpur and some other districts have been offering at least double price in advance to the farmers. But the scenario was started changing when the demand of the national fruit was decreasing faster in the market due to heavy rush of mango in the season.
Most of the fruits in the orchards and private initiative trees were sold in last three to four weeks, said some of the farmers.
Mohammad Ali, a farmer of Manaharpur area in Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah when contacted said usually he had sold all the jackfruits to the wholesale buyers of Shariatpur at the lowest price as no one of the wholesale buyers show their interest to purchase the same. The price was almost double about two months back. As there was least demand of the jackfruit, the farmers have been using the same as fodder, Mohammad Ali said.
Ramjan Ali, a wholesale buyer of jackfruit belongs to Gopalganj and Manirul Islam of another Abdur Rahim of Gopalganj when contacted at Shailkupa weekly fruit market said they have been purchasing a piece of medium size jackfruit at Taka 70 to 80 as against three to four weeks back price for Taka 120 to 140. As there was huge supply of mango in the market till today, the consumers have been showing a little interest in purchasing jackfruit
According to a source related to the office of the deputy director of the department of agriculture extension in Jhenaidah, they farmers had produced about 19 thousand tons of jackfruit on 636 hectares of land in the last season. Upazila wise breakup of the land was 141 hectares in Jhenaidah Sadar, 50 hectares in Kaliganj, 60 hectares in Kotchandpur, 90 hectares in Moheshpur, 290 hectares in Shailkupa and five hectares in Harinakundu. Average yield was 29.69 tones on each hectare. The area of jackfruit farming was expanded to 666 hectares as against 636 hectares in the last season.The farmers had, DAE sources said.
DAE deputy director in Jhenaidah Asgar Ali when contacted said, although the area of jackfruit farming was expanded to 30 additional 30 hectares of land in the season, the farmers were more caring about the tress as it is now potential to them due to its traditional timber.
Deputy Director said the supply of all types of mangoes like Lengra, Tilley Bombai, Ratnai Bomabai, Amrapali and some other varieties are still available in the market. Further, Fazli and other larger size mangoes will hit the market in adequate quantity soon.
They might be available till early Bhadra of Bengali month. Due to this the demand for the jackfruit was least in the season, DAE deputy director in Jhenaidah Asgar Ali said.