The holy month of Ramadan has begun. Throughout the month, devout Muslims abstain from food and drink every day from sunrise to sunset and break their fast with iftar at sunset. Fruit of various kinds is one of the main items at iftar, so Kolkata's fruit wholesale markets have become busy since the fast began.

Local and foreign fruit has started arriving at the Mechua and Sealdah wholesale fruit markets, as well as at wholesale fruit depots in the districts around Kolkata.

Traders at the Sealdah wholesale fruit market said there is enough supply at the moment, and foreign fruit has also been imported to keep prices steady in Ramadan. Prices are therefore expected to be somewhat lower this time.

Mechua is the largest fruit market in West Bengal. Anisur Ali Khan, a wholesale fruit trader at Mechua, told Jagonews that supply is sufficient and wholesale prices are more or less steady. Apples are Rs 150-180 a kg, guavas Rs 80-100 a kg and watermelons Rs 30 to 35 a kg depending on size and quality. Pomegranates are Rs 100-130 a kg, papaya Rs 40-50, bananas Rs 40-50 a dozen, grapes Rs 100 a kg and pineapples Rs 50-60 each, though pineapples are sold by the kilogram in retail markets.

Cucumbers are also in high demand at iftar. In Kolkata they now sell wholesale at Rs 25 to 30 a kg, though traders say the price may rise.

In Kolkata and various districts of West Bengal, oranges and mosambi (sweet lime) have always been sold by the piece. Both now sell wholesale at Rs 6 to 8 each, with prices varying by size in some places.

It is hard even to imagine iftar without dates. Guddu Ansari, a wholesale trader in dates and dry food at Kolkata's New Market, said demand for dry food and dates is high every year during Ramadan. Good-quality dates cost Rs 800-850 a kg this year, and various kinds of dates are also being imported. In the retail market, good cashew nuts cost Rs 900 to 1,000 a kg, raisins Rs 300 to 450 a kg, and pistachios and walnuts a little more, at Rs 1,300-1,400.

Wholesale fruit and dry food traders expect prices to stay at this level throughout Ramadan this year.

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