Demand for local fruit is rising in Khulna because imported fruit has become expensive. Papaya, banana, watermelon, local malta, dragon fruit, pineapple and sugarcane are available for less than imported apples, malta, grapes, pomegranates and oranges, so many buyers are now choosing local fruit to meet their families' needs.

That was the picture at retail fruit markets in various parts of Khulna city on Sunday, 16 August. Traders say sales of imported fruit have fallen as prices rose, while sales of cheaper local fruit have gone up.

Apples are selling at Tk 280 to 320 a kg, malta at Tk 320 to 350, red grapes at Tk 550 to 600, other grapes at Tk 300 to 350, pomegranates at Tk 450 to 500 and oranges at Tk 250 to 300.

Local bananas, by contrast, cost Tk 50 to 60 a dozen, ripe papaya Tk 80 to 100 a kg, small watermelons Tk 60 to 70, local malta Tk 100 to 120 and dragon fruit Tk 150 to 170 a kg. Green coconuts cost Tk 130 to 250 each depending on size, large sugarcane Tk 60 to 70 a stick, and pineapples Tk 70 each or Tk 120 to 130 a pair.

Afzal Sheikh, a fruit seller at Moylapota crossing, said imported fruit prices have risen a lot and there are fewer buyers. Fruit takes seven to 10 days to reach Bangladesh from other countries; some dries out and loses weight on the way, and some spoils in transit. That pushes up prices and reduces demand. Sales will rise if prices fall, he said.

Yunus Gazi, who sells local fruit at Dolkhola crossing, said some small watermelons are available even though it is not the season, and they are relatively cheap. Ripe papaya is selling at Tk 70 to 80 a kg, compared with Tk 150 to 200 a kg at the same time last year. Supplies of ripe bananas have also risen, at Tk 40 to 50 a dozen, so local fruit is selling well during the day.

Among local fruit, green coconuts remain relatively dear. Halim Gazi, who sells them at Saat Rasta crossing, said his cheapest coconut is Tk 130, and large ones sell for up to Tk 250. Prices have risen because supply is short of demand, he said, adding that most of Khulna's green coconuts come from Bagerhat.

Many buyers are choosing local fruit on price. Porosh Mollik said buying imported fruit costs Tk 500 to 600, while the same money buys three or four kinds of local fruit. He bought a kilogram of papaya for Tk 100, choosing the cheap fruit because it is good for the whole family.

Another buyer, Jahanara Khatun, was buying pomegranates and apples for a sick colleague. The fruit is good for patients but very expensive, she said, and lower prices would help ordinary people.

Jibon, who came to buy green coconuts, said prices are high almost everywhere and it is hard to find one below Tk 150. Patients and people who are physically weak need them, so buyers have to pay the high price. In his view, local fruit prices should come down further.

Traders and buyers say the high cost of imported fruit is boosting interest in local fruit, though some local fruit, including green coconuts, are also relatively expensive because supply is short.

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