The honey month of Jyoishtho begins in about a week, but lychees have already started appearing in Rajshahi's markets. Being new, they are very expensive: 100 lychees are selling for Tk 300.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rajshahi, lychee has been grown on 530 hectares in Rajshahi this year, with a production target of 3,800 tonnes. But there are doubts about meeting the target because of adverse weather.

Traders were seen selling lychees at Shaheb Bazar, Bindur Mor, Laxmipur, Station and Shalbagan markets in Rajshahi city, as well as on both sides of various roads next to the Shiroil bus terminal. Many are paying high prices for the year's first fruit out of enthusiasm.

Helal Uddin brought lychees to Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi on Monday, 6 May. He told Jago News: "These lychees are from Bhugroil in Paba upazila. They come in first every year, and this year too. They are sweet now. On the first day the price has been set at Tk 300 for 100 lychees."

"I brought 500 lychees today," he added. "Seeing new fruit in the market, many people are buying them. I sold 300 in a few hours. I hope all the lychees will be gone shortly."

Enamul Haque came to Shaheb Bazar to buy lychees. "Lychees came to the market for the first time today. It feels good to see them. Even though the price is high, I bought a small amount. They taste good too," he said.

Majedur Rahman bought lychees in the Shiroil area of the city. He told Jago News: "By the look of them they won't be sweet, and the price is high. I bought them so everyone at home could eat them together."

Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer at the Fruit Research Institute in Rajshahi, said some local lychees ripen early. There is no problem eating them, and they are sweet too. But the main lychees will still take a long time. Usually, he said, people may have to wait until the end of May or the beginning of June for them.

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