GURUDASPUR, NATORE, May 23: Trading of various species of seasonal litchi is going on in full swing at different haats and bazaars in Gurudaspur Upazila of the district.
According to local sources, despite good yielding, growers are not getting profitable prices because of stunted growth of litchi fruits and over-supply. Growers are counting losses not only in this upazila, but also in entire Natore.
Warehouse owners and labourers are passing busy time in selling and packing activities. Wholesalers are sending their purchased litchi fruits to different districts by trucks.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)-Natore, this season, in the district, 924 hectares (ha) of land were brought under litchi cultivation, with a total production of 7,897 metric tons (mt), worth about Tk 300 crore. This included 410 ha in Gurudaspur Upazila, where the litchi production stands at 3,690 mt worth about Tk 140.22 crore.
Species like Mozaffar, Bombay and China-3 are mostly favourite across the country. Centring the litchi season, 20-25 seasonal litchi warehouses have been opened in different areas including Nazirpur, Molla Bazar, Jhawpara, and Bergangarampur.
Everyday from these warehouses litchis worth about Tk 50-55 lakh are sent to Dhaka and other parts of the country. Trading in litchi haats continues from 2pm to 10pm, involving 250-300 labourers.
According to growers and warehouse owners, this litchi season, per 1,000 litchi are selling at Tk 1,200-1,7000 against last season's Tk 2,200-2,400, depriving growers of Tk 400-500 per 1,000. Growers said, due to smaller sizes and higher supply at bazaars, the litchi price has come down. This unexpected setback has been a major concern for them.
There is demand of Natore's litchi in towns and cities of different districts including Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram and Khulna.
A recent visit to Bergangarampur Bottola Litchi Mokam in Gurudaspur Upazila found Fariahs (middlemen) purchasing litchis in open auctions, and labourers were seen packing litchis for sending those to other parts of the country.
While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, a number of growers like Rajib Hossain and Belal Hossain said, though the yielding has been good in fair weather, sizes of the litchi fruits have been smaller; that is why the price is less; the growers will have to count losses for the poor price, they added.
Warehouse owner Abdul Mannan said, despite increased production, wholesalers' interest is comparatively less. President of Nazirpur Litchi Warehouse Committee Sakhawat Hossain said, like every year, warehouses were given lease for Tk 5.75 lakh. In order to ensure overall security, local police are also playing role along with the committee, he added.
Dr Yasin Ali, Deputy Director (Acting) of DAE-Natore, said, the less price of litchi, despite increased production, has created a financial pressure for growers. The authorities should take initiatives for bringing transparency in market management and ensuring fair prices, he added.
At the same time, if litchi processing and preserving industrial units are raised, growers' earnings will increase, and along with this the contribution of the litchi sector to the national economy will go up, DAE officials maintained.
