Unripe lychees flood Ishwardi markets amid profit rush

Unripe and immature lychees are now being openly sold at various lychee markets, local bazaars, and roadside spots across the Ishwardi upazila in pursuit of higher profits.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Ali Ehsan said, “Harmful pesticides are often used on unripe lychees, which can pose serious health risks.

Especially for children, eating raw lychees on an empty stomach may cause hypoglycemia, vomiting, abdominal pain, and other serious complications.”

Meanwhile, doctors have warned local residents about consuming unripe and pesticide-contaminated lychees.

Children, in particular, have been advised not to eat immature lychees.

National award-winning lychee farmer Abdul Jalil Kitab Mondol said, “Although profits are slightly higher now, selling such unripe lychees is not appropriate.”

Such scenes are regularly visible at Joynagar Shimultala Lychee Market, Ishwardi Municipal Market, Awtapara, and several other areas.

Farmers say the ongoing intense heat is causing lychees to fall prematurely from trees.

To avoid major financial losses, they are being forced to bring the fruit to market earlier than usual.

Currently, a bundle of 100 lychees is selling in the retail market for Tk 290 to Tk 360.

As the fruit has just entered the market, many buyers are purchasing it at high prices out of seasonal excitement.

However, many consumers are expressing disappointment over the taste.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, lychee cultivation has been carried out on nearly 3,100 hectares of land in Ishwardi this year, including MozafFar, Bombay, China-3, and Bedana varieties.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said, “The lychee yield has been good this year.

To ensure proper taste and nutritional value, farmers should wait at least another 8 to 10 days.

They have been advised to market the fruit only after full maturity.”

Ishwardi’s Bombay lychee is well known across the country for its quality and taste.

Usually, lychees in this region ripen at the beginning of the Bengali month of Joishtho.

However, this year, local varieties including Deshi, Bombay, China-3, and Bedana lychees have appeared in markets by the end of Boishakh.