Mouthwatering seasonal fruit litchi has started to hit the local markets of Barishal since the middle of the Bangla month of Jaistha, commonly known as ‘Madhumash’.
But the fruit lovers are being deprived of this sensational fruit’s original taste as local farmers are collecting litchis from the garden before those are matured.
The farmers do so in the apprehension of fruits getting damaged by natural disasters, said local sources.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials in the district advised the farmers to wait for some more days so that the fruits matured and ripened properly.
The sources said that due to the high demand for litchis among the buyers in the markets, unscrupulous traders have brought litchi to the market before they are fully ripe, hoping for higher profits.
The price of litchi, the new fruit of the season, however, is too high for commoners.
Every 100 litchis are being sold for Tk 150-200, whereas wholesale traders are selling them at Tk 500-1000 per thousand.
Traders said that after a few days, different high-quality litchis will be available in the market.
Medical officials have suggested avoiding the consumption of these prematurely harvested litchis, which are extremely harmful to the human body.
During a visit to different areas of Barishal city, this correspondent found that seasonal traders have set up litchi stalls on both sides of various alleys including Phalpatti, GirjaMahalla, Notun Bazar, Nathullabad Central Bus Station, Kashipur Bazar, Hatem Ali ChowmathaBazar, Rupatali, Hatkhola, and various other alleys.
The litchis, wrapped in green leaves, are displayed in baskets or on stools, their red hues glowing in clusters.
Dulal, a fruit trader from Notun Bazar, said, "Today, for the first time this season, I have bought litchis from the wholesale market and started to sell them in the local market. I have bought litchis for Tk 2,000-2,200 per thousand depending on the size of them. There are transportation and other expenses. We are selling 100 litchis to customers for Tk 250-320."
He further said that the litchis now in the market would typically be harvested later, but due to the intense heat and less rain this year, the litchis are getting colour earlier. Lychees are falling in a storm, bursting, so growers are selling them before they are fully ripe.
The sources said that the wholesale traders are collecting these early varieties of litchi from Ishwardi, Meherpur and Pabna. These lychees are said to be of local varieties, which are slightly sour and mildly sweet.
A customer named Ayesha Begum said that she bought 100 litchis for Tk 300 from the bus station market because her young daughter insisted. However, the litchis are not yet fully ripe in taste and quality. Traders are harvesting litchis from the trees prematurely, aiming for extra profit. These local litchis are a mix of sweet and sour, with many being very sour.
Mintu, a fruit seller in the city's Phulpatti area, mentioned that litchis have started arriving in the market. These are small, local litchis, which are also sour in taste. Litchis have not started to hit the market in full swing, which is why the current prices are slightly higher. Within the next two weeks, a large quantity of litchis will begin to arrive in the market, allowing all types of customers to enjoy the taste of litchis.
Rana, a fruit seller at the Rupatali bus stand in the city, said that due to hot weather, the colour of the litchis has developed a week earlier this year compared to last year. There is no rain, and there have been heatwaves, so the litchis have not grown very large. The litchis currently in the market are not yet fully ripe and are still somewhat sour.
Despite good prices, the yield is somewhat lower, he said adding, “Today, I have bought litchis for Tk 2,000-2200. If these litchis were not brought to the market, they would have spoiled. Compared to last year, the litchi season will end 7-10 days earlier this year.”
Regarding unripe litchis, Dinajpur's Civil Surgeon AHM Borhan Ul Islam Siddiki said that unripe litchis are harmful to health. Unripe litchis contain a special enzyme. Eating these litchis on an empty stomach can cause stomach pain, various illnesses, and even death due to the effect of that enzyme.
Md Showkat Osman, additional director of the DAE in Barishal region, said that after a few days, almost all varieties of litchi will start ripening. However, some traders are selling unripe litchis in the market by changing the colour of unripe litchi by applying chemicals in the hope of more profit. We are monitoring the market; legal action will be taken against anyone doing this.
Barishal District Civil Surgeon Dr Maria Hasan stated that chemically treated unripe litchis are extremely harmful to the human body. This is particularly risky for young children. The Civil Surgeon advised against eating these early-season unripe litchis available in the market.
