Demand for local and imported fruit has risen sharply in Ramadan, as people fasting like to eat nutritious and tasty fruit at sehri and iftar, and sales of various fruits have increased. With imported fruit expensive, local fruit is meeting the growing demand. But because of that demand, almost all local fruit is also selling at somewhat higher prices than usual. Buyers object and are unhappy, yet they are turning to local fruit because it is still cheaper than imported fruit.

A visit to the Baily Road, Shantinagar and Segunbagicha markets in the capital on Wednesday afternoon (5 March) found local fruit piled high: guava, jujube (boroi), papaya, pineapple, wood apple (bel) and banana, with watermelon and bangi melon newly arrived. There seems to be no shortage of these local fruits. Among imported fruit, apples, oranges and grapes are in highest demand now, but buyers are leaning towards local fruit because it is comparatively cheaper.

Watermelon was selling at Tk 55-60 a kg. By the piece, medium watermelons were selling for Tk 350 to 400 and large ones for Tk 550 to 800.

Large bangi melons were selling for Tk 160 to 200 depending on size; small ones for under Tk 100 and medium ones for up to Tk 150.

It is not yet the full season for watermelon and bangi, but the markets give no sign of that: supply of these early varieties is plentiful. Farmers in the south in particular planted watermelon early this year with Ramadan in mind, and they are now getting good prices.

Most buyers object to the current price of watermelon. Mohibul, a shopper at Segunbagicha market, told Jago News: "Look how many kinds of fruit there are in the market, but you can't buy anything for under a hundred taka, and these are all local fruits. Five hundred taka for a watermelon: is that a joke?"

"The sellers act as if this is their last Ramadan, as if they will never again get a chance to make extra profit in their lives. That is why they do business as they please in Ramadan. This is nothing but oppression of ordinary people," he said.

Guava was selling at Tk 100 to 120 a kg. A shopper named Enamul told Jago News: "I bought guava for Tk 80 the day before yesterday. Today they are asking Tk 40 more. In a big market you will still find it cheaper. Really, some local seasonal traders are asking whatever they like for fruit. They are bent on excessive profit around Ramadan."

The jujube season is nearly over. It is now selling at Tk 100-120, against Tk 60-80 at the height of the season. Likewise, papaya, which stays at Tk 60-80 all year, now costs Tk 120-150 a kg.

Pineapple is somewhat more affordable by comparison: large ones cost between Tk 60 and Tk 80. Bel is similarly priced, though very large ones sell for Tk 100-200.

Sagar bananas cost Tk 180 a dozen and champa bananas Tk 120 a dozen, up by as much as Tk 60 a dozen.

Several sellers said the high price of imported fruit has affected the local fruit market. In Ramadan, along with dates, juicy fruits such as malta and oranges are in high demand, and their prices rose just before Ramadan began.

They said malta rose by Tk 50-80 a kg before the fast. With little local malta in the market, imported malta that cost Tk 220 a kg now has to be bought at Tk 270 to 300, and in places more is being asked.

Imported oranges now cost Tk 300 to 350 a kg, up Tk 40 to 70. Apples are also up, by Tk 20 to 30 a kg, and green apples are selling at Tk 300 to 320, the sellers said.

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