Juicy litchi starts appearing in Rajshahi markets

With eight more days to appear the Bangla month of Jyestha, commonly known as ‘Modhumash’, the juicy fruit litchi has started appearing in the local markets including Rajshahi city and its adjacent areas in limited scale.

But due to its less quantity, the present price is beyond purchasing
capacity of the commoners.

The summer season will bring many other juicy fruits like mango and
jackfruit naturally in the region by mid of next June abundantly.

Many seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at different points in the
city especially Shaheb Bazar, Bindurmore, Luxmipur Bazar, Sheroil Bus
Terminal, Railway station and Court bazaar with the eye catching fruit.

In advent of the season, the every 100 litchi fruits are being sold at
Taka 300 to 350 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.

Trader Abdus Salam at Railway gate area said on Wednesday that many farmers
are harvesting immature litchi with the hope of getting more money.

Talking to BSS here today, Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of
Fruit Research Station, said the local varieties of litchi have started
appearing in the markets. But, the Bombay variety is expected to come to the
markets within next couple of weeks.

He said many people are getting benefits by growing litchi as China-3
(hybrid), Bombay and Madras are the most popular varieties in the region. Dr
Alim says litchi is grown well in Rajshahi and Dinajpur districts. But, the
litchi of Ishwardi is very delicious and famous across the country.

He said commercial farming of some of the fruits especially mango and
litchi are gradually being enhanced in the region.

In addition to the commercial farming, high yielding China-3, Bombay and
Madrazi variety litchis are also being cultivated on homestead lands.
Additional Director of DAE Dev Dulal Dhali said many people became self-
reliant by cultivating litchi in recent years.

He 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.