Jackfruit Prices Surge in Sreepur Amid Low Season-End Supply

As the season draws to a close, local markets in Sreepur, Gazipur, are experiencing a notable decline in the supply of jackfruit. This drop in availability has driven up prices significantly for consumers and enthusiasts looking to purchase the fruit before it disappears entirely from the stalls. According to recent market observations, jackfruit is currently being sold at varying prices depending heavily on the size of the individual fruit, with costs ranging anywhere from 200 to 1,000 taka.

Amid this scarcity, vendor Billal Hossain explained the pricing dynamics of late-season produce, noting that a jackfruit fetching 1,000 taka now would cost practically nothing during the peak of the season. He pointed out that certain trees bear fruit at the very end of the season, requiring traders to purchase them at higher wholesale costs. These specific late-season jackfruits are exceptionally flavorful, prompting consumers to buy them at these elevated prices.

Echoing the sentiment regarding quality and demand, buyer Mohammad Ali described a large purchase, stating that it cost a fixed price of 1,000 taka, noting that it was exceptionally sweet, featured large segments, and possessed a honey-like aroma. সাইফুল ইসলাম (Saiful Islam) added that the supply in local markets is currently very low, explaining that even if one or two jackfruits are found somewhere, affluent and enthusiastic buyers are willing to purchase them by paying high prices.

Despite the end-of-season crunch, production figures for the area remain documented. For this year, the jackfruit production target in Sreepur has been set at 60 metric tons, which is nearly identical to the production target established during the previous year. Agricultural stakeholders are looking closely at how timing and variety impact these market fluctuations and overall profitability for local growers.

Looking toward future agricultural strategies, Islam Uddin emphasized that farmers could secure significantly higher profits if they plant jackfruit trees with a thorough understanding of the specific varieties. He noted that there is always a strong market demand for both early-season and end-of-season jackfruits. Building on this, Sumaiya Sultana Bonnya from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute noted that the institute has already developed several early-ripening jackfruit varieties and is supplying their seedlings to various nurseries, including some strains that bear fruit twelve months a year. She reiterated that by planting seedlings according to the appropriate variety, farmers can successfully command much better prices for their jackfruit harvests.