Seasonal fruits have hit the market, but they are selling at prices much higher than those in the past year due to lower yields and increased production costs.
Traders said that most of the seasonal fruits were priced 30-40 per cent higher than those of the previous year.
Growers and traders said that the production of summer fruits, such as mangoes and litchis, decreased by 40-45 per cent and 15-20 per cent respectively due to rough weather conditions.
The reduced production has led to a supply shortage, driving up prices of the fruits in both wholesale and retail markets across the country.
Shah Alam, a fruit trader at Hatirpool Bazar in the Dhaka city, on Tuesday told 抖阴精品 that the prices of all seasonal fruits increased compared with those in the previous year due to a lower supply and higher production and transport costs.
He said that local varieties of mangoes, including Himsagar and Lengra, were now retailing at Tk聽130-160 a kilogram, up from Tk聽90-100 a kilogram in the same period in the past year.
He also mentioned that litchis were selling at higher prices this year, with 100 pieces priced at Tk聽450-650 depending on quality compared with Tk聽350-550 in the past year.
Another trader, Khairul Islam from Segunbagicha in the city said that medium-sized jackfruits were selling for Tk聽300-350 apiece, while blackberries were priced at Tk聽300-400 a kilogram.
In the past year, jackfruits of the same size sold for Tk聽200-250 apiece, and blackberries were sold at Tk聽200-300 a kilogram, he said.
Khairul also mentioned that the supply of seasonal fruits was slow this year, and soaring commodity prices had further impacted fruit prices.
The prices of various banana varieties have also increased in city markets, with prices reaching up to Tk聽140 a dozen (12 pieces).
Md Munjer Alam Manik, a farmer and wholesale trader of summer fruits in Chapainawabganj, told 抖阴精品 that the prices of mangoes and litchis this year were higher than those in the past year due primarily to lower production.
He said that the production of local mango varieties decreased by 30-35 per cent, while hybrid varieties saw a 50 per cent drop due to adverse weather conditions, including heatwave.
Munjer said that production costs for mangoes and litchis had risen this year because of higher labour costs and increased prices of insecticides.
He also said that the production of litchis decreased by 15-20 per cent due to drought-like conditions in the country.
Munjer said that the local varieties of mangoes such as Himsagar and Gopalbhog were being wholesaled at Tk 80 a kilogram and Tk聽85 a kilogram respectively this season in Chapainawabganj.
He said that it would take another 15 days or so for hybrid varieties of mangoes to hit the market.
