Trawler-loads of watermelons have started arriving in Chandpur at the very start of the Bengali month of Chaitra. Traders are bringing in the fruit because demand is high during the fasting month, but with demand running ahead of supply, prices are high too.

On Thursday (14 March), at the No 10 Chowdhury Ghat in the town, the largest watermelon and fresh-produce wholesale market in Chandpur district, watermelons were seen arriving by trawler from Barishal and other remote parts of the country. Once they reach the ghat, the fruit is taken into the wholesale depots. The yield is better than last year's, but prices are high because of strong demand.

Rubel Matabbar, a farmer from Galachipa in Patuakhali, said: "Last year the watermelons rotted in the fields because of rain. This year the yield is good. If the weather holds, we will make a profit. I have brought some watermelons to Chandpur. There is huge demand here. Prices are high because there are few watermelons. Once all the farmers start bringing them in, prices will fall."

Buyer Mainul Islam said the prices of all fruit, watermelons included, had gone up. Each watermelon costs Tk 300–600. The watermelons on the market are immature and small, yet expensive, he said, adding that the market should be monitored every day.

Harun Howlader, former general secretary of the Chandpur Chowdhury Ghat traders' association, said watermelon growers had suffered heavy losses last year. "The season has not started yet this year. Some watermelons come into the depots every day, but there are twice as many retailers. Supply is low and demand is high, which is why prices are high. When watermelons start coming in all at once in a few days, prices will come down on their own."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.