The prices of most of the local seasonal fruits such as mango, litchi, Java plum, jackfruit and banana are very high in the markets of Rajshahi. Many of the fruits are out of the purchasing capacity of the low and middle-income people in the district.
Several people claimed that the prices of the seasonal fruits are more than double than the previous year.
After visiting several fruit markets in Shaheb Bazar, Rajshahi Court, Station Market and Binodpur, it was seen that the mangoes were being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 150 per Kg. The best quality 100 pieces of litchi were being sold at Tk 400. The price of Per Kg Java plum is Tk 250 to Tk 300. Moreover, the prices of green coconut, jackfruit and banana are also high. Per piece green coconut was being sold at Tk 130 to Tk 150. A medium-sized jackfruit was being sold at Tk 250. However, the prices of the seasonal fruits are higher than the prices of last year.
Besides, the prices of imported foreign fruits like Apple, Malta and Pears are being sold at more than Tk 300 per kg.
Orange and Dragon fruits are being sold at Tk 400 per kg. Meanwhile, the grapes and strawberries are being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 700 per kg.
However, the fruit orchard owners and farmers of Rajshahi, mainly the Mango and Litchi farmers, expressed their satisfaction over the higher prices of the local fruits.
Bacchu, a mango orchard owner in the Kantakhali area, said that the production of mango was very low this year. However, the demand is very high.
He said that he has 40 mango trees on three Bighas of land. The production of mangoes was hampered this year due to bad weather conditions. However, still, the mangoes which are left on the trees now are being sold at a high price. The mango orchard owners and the mango farmers are happy this year as they get high price for the seasonal fruit, he added.
Abul Hossain, resident of the Sagarpara area of the city, was seen visiting one fruit vendor to another to purchase seasonal fruit mango.
He said that the price of mango is very high this year. His family members, his children, are fond of mango. However, he bought only two kilograms of Guti (low-quality) mango from the market at Tk 85 per Kg. He said he couldn't buy best quality mangoes like Gopalbhog, Khirsapat or Mohanbhog due to the exorbitant price.
Khairul, resident of the Maskatadighi area under Paba Upazila, sells fruits at the footpath of Shaheb Bazar. He said that the prices of mango and other seasonal fruits are higher than last year's prices. He also said that he had to purchase the fruits from the orchard owners at a high price. So, he was selling them at higher prices with a marginal profit.
