The seasonal fruits have occupied the markets in Jhenidah. Mango, litchi, jamrul, kakoor, bangi and watermelon are among them. But the prices of the fruits are almost double or triple now than the past seasons.
Mango appeared in the market about two weeks back where the number of local species was major in quantity. But they were selling at Tk 100 to 120, although the price came to a downward situation gradually. Now they are selling at Tk 50 to 60 a kilogram.
Some Himsagar and Mohanbhog also appearing in the market since 3rd week of May. They are selling at Tk 90 to 120 per kg. These improved variety and most lucrative varieties could not appear in the market due to government warning in harvesting the same early in the market to ensure them chemical-free. Lengra, another lucrative variety of mango, is expected in the market within two weeks, the vendors informed.
Litchi is almost available in the market now. Abide ending of the local varieties, the litchi from Hazrapur in Magura and some parts of Meherpur rushed Jhenidah market about two weeks ago with a handsome price. They are selling at Tk 150 to 25 each hundred.
Green Melon, better known as Kakur and Nalim, appeared in the market about a month back. Each piece of Kakur is being sold at Tk 40 to 70, while the Nalim at Tk 20 to 50.’ The price was the fruits was at least 60 per cent less in the last season.
Smaller sizes of pineapples produced in Rangamati, started appearing in the market about a month ago. They are selling at Tk 30 to 40, which was 30 each in the past season.
The vendors said that the nalim produced in a large scale at Salikha upazila in Magura is being charged higher as the production was not optimum this season.
Watermelon is untouched this season. Each piece of the fruit is selling at Tk 80 to 150, while the bigger size at Tk 300 to 450. The price is double or triple this season. The vendors said that the watermelon which was brought from Kuakata in Pirojpur was not available in bulk quantity.
Even Thakurgaon and Panchargarh, two major watermelon producing area could not produce the same this season. The production was hampered in the season, the farmers in the area informed them, the vendors said. On the other hand the consumers have been alleging that each and every piece of the watermelon was ripen with chemical that made the fruit severe reddish in colour than the normal colour in nature.
The price of banana was a record high this season since beginning of the Ramadan. Each piece of the same was selling at Tk eight to ten which was hardly Tk two to three last season.
The price increased when there was no suitable fruit during the fasting month. But the price increasing trend started decreasing when mango and some other seasonal fruits appearing in the market one after another.
Deputy Director of the department of agriculture extension (DAE in Jhenidah GM Abdur Rauf when contacted said the farmers in Jhenidah produce huge local variety of mangoes, while the farmers i0n Kotchandpur upazila have been producing satisfactory quantity of improved and tasty mangoes like Himsagar, Gopalbhog and some other varieties.
The remaining demand is met with outside areas like Meherpur, Kansat in Chapainawabganj, Iswardi, Dinajpur and some other northern districts every year. Actually, pineapple is not cultivated in the district in commercial basis and the same is brought in the market from Ragamati, Madhupur, Sylhet and Tangail.
The Deputy Director added the people of Jhenidah and surrounding areas would enjoy chemical-free fruits, especially, mango as the government had imposed prohibition on harvesting the same before a certain time to avoid the chemical towards a safe fruit offer to the people.
The people are enjoying mature and fresh fruits in the season that might change the “bad-habit” of the people in purchasing the chemical-mixed fruits.
It is healthful for the people, as well as benefit for the mango producers to strengthen their socio-economic base, the official added.
