Unripe lychees flood Ishwardi markets, fetch high prices
Immature lychees have started appearing in markets across Ishwardi, widely known as the country’s “lychee capital,” well before the peak harvesting season, raising concerns among consumers and agricultural experts.
Although the main harvest period typically falls in the month of Jyoishtho, local growers have begun selling unripe lychees during Boishakh in a bid to secure higher prices.
As a result, consumers are paying premium rates but often failing to get the expected taste and nutritional value.
In local markets, 100 pieces of the Mozaffar variety are currently selling for Tk 250 to Tk 300. Many buyers, attracted by the arrival of the season’s first fruit, are purchasing the lychees despite their lower quality. However, health experts have cautioned against consuming immature lychees.
Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension said harvesting Aati or Mozaffar varieties should ideally be delayed by at least 10 days to ensure proper maturity, which would enhance the fruit’s flavor, weight, and nutritional content.
Ahsan Habib, a buyer from the town’s Railgate area, said he knowingly purchased the early lychees at a high price. “I understand the fruit is not fully ripe, but as it is the first of the season, I bought some for my children,” he said.
Meanwhile, an ongoing heatwave has caused significant fruit drop in orchards across Ishwardi. Visits to several place including Joynagar, Sahapur, Boktarpur, Rooppur, Solimpur, Charmikamari, Awtapara, and Bansherbada, revealed large numbers of young fruits falling from trees. In some orchards, new leaves have emerged instead of fruit clusters, disappointing growers.
Shahmat Mondal, a farmer from Charmikamari village, said he suffered losses this season. “I have 115 lychee trees. Last year, I leased my orchard for Tk 800,000, but this year I had to lease it out at a much lower price due to poor fruiting,” he said.
Prahllad Kumar Kundu, Agricultural Extension Officer of Ishwardi Upazila, warned that marketing immature lychees deprives consumers of proper taste and nutrition. He urged growers to wait a few more days to allow the fruit to mature fully.
According to the Agriculture Department, about 3,100 hectares of land in Ishwardi have been brought under lychee cultivation this year. Varieties include local Aati (Mozaffar), Bombai, Chili Bombai, and China-3. Lychees from the region are supplied to major districts across the country, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said that although flowering was abundant this season, adverse weather, climate change impacts, pollination issues, and subsequent drought have led to poor fruit setting and significant fruit drop. This has created uncertainty over overall lychee production for the current season.
