Bumper mango production likely to fetch good profits

FT ONLINE

A bumper output of mango is expected in the north-northwestern region, especially in Rajshahi. Agriculture officials and mango growers say pre-monsoon rain has helped the trees blossom to the full this year. Large quantities of different varieties of mango will soon hit the markets of this region. According to the Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre, mango was cultivated on 17,463 hectares in the district this year. The target level was 2,426,189 metric tonnes.

Officials of the agriculture department say the full harvest of the juicy fruit in this major mango hub is expected to come to nearly six lakh metric tonnes this year. “If the current weather pattern persists, mango production will exceed this year's target level,” says one of the officials.

As in every year, people from across the country are coming to Rajshahi city to buy high-quality mango produced everywhere in urban areas, though on a limited scale.

Mannaf Sarker, a mango grower of Bagha upazila, says he is expecting more profit this year as his orchards are already full with the juicy fruit. Dr Alim Uddin, principal scientist officer of the Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre, says the farmers used the pesticides of Cipher Methrin Group and Mancoze this year before budding. Powdery mildew was not seen this year for early use of those pesticides, he notes.

“As much as 90 per cent of the mango trees were budded early this season in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainababganj and Natore. Some buds were nipped due to bad weather,” he adds.

Rajshahi has a long tradition of producing popular mango varieties like Gopalbhog, Lengra, Khirshapati (Himsagar), Ranipchanda, Mohonvog, Laxhmanvog, Dhudsor, Michrivog, Rajvog, Amropali and Chinichampa.

The Gopalbhog variety has already hit the market. Luscious Gopalbhog mangoes are available in Rajshahi markets since May 20. Of the other varieties, harvesting of Khirshapati (Himsagar) and Laxmanbhog will start on June 1, Langra on June 6, Amropali and Fazly on June 16 and Arshina varieties will be harvested in phases from July 1.

SM Abdul Kader, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi, said to remove the formalin fear among consumers, the date for harvesting every mango variety has been fixed. It will help mango farmers, traders and consumers in equal measues, he added.