The local administration in Naogaon district has announced an ambitious goal to achieve Tk 2500 crore in mango sales, as the region prepares for the upcoming harvesting season. The diverse range of mango varieties grown here, including the early Guti mango set to be harvested from May 22, positions Naogaon as a significant player in the agricultural sector. Officials from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have provided a detailed schedule for the harvest: Gopalbhog mangoes from May 30, Khirsapati or Himsagar from June 2, Nag Fazli from June 5, Langra and Haribhanga from June 10, Amrapali from June 20, Fazli from June 25, and later varieties like Aswina, Bari Mango-4, Gourmoti, and Katimon from July 10. This year's cultivation covers 33,300 hectares, aiming for a production of 431,500 tonnes of mango. The district is known for its rich diversity in mango varieties, with farmers cultivating 16 different types. Local mango growers are optimistic about the market prospects despite the challenges posed by weather conditions, including a costly drought. Mango harvesting in Natore to begin on May 25 Sohel Rana, who owns Agro Park in Sapahar upazila, has invested in 75 bighas of land dedicated to mango cultivation. He emphasizes the adherence to advanced agricultural practices to ensure quality produce. Another local farmer, Nur from Islampur village, shared that while initial costs range from Tk 30,000 to 35,000 per bigha, drought conditions have pushed costs up by an additional Tk 4,000 to 5,000 this season. Despite lower yields, high market prices could still ensure profitability for growers. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of DAE in the district, highlighted the export potential, noting that approximately 220 metric tonnes of mango were exported last year. This year, the district has set a target to export 500 tonnes. Azad remains hopeful about reaching the sales target of Tk 2500 crore, provided the weather conditions are favorable, which will play a crucial role in achieving these ambitious goals. As the harvesting season approaches, the market is poised to be flooded with a variety of mangoes from Naogaon, promising both local consumption and significant export opportunities. Mangoes dropping early in Rajshahi amid intense heat; growers, traders worried

Mango harvest in Natore district began today (May 20, 2023) with the Gopalbhog variety. Deputy Commissioner Abu Naser Bhuiya inaugurated the harvest officially by plucking mangoes from an orchard at Kola Chapila in Gurudaspur upazila of the district. Read more: 5 Mouth-watering Mango Pickle Recipes to Cherish This Summer Deputy Director of the district’s Department of Agriculture Extension Abul Wadud, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sraboni Roy and owners of mango orchards were present on the occasion. This year, the government has set a target to produce mangoes worth Tk 750 core from 13,280 orchards in Natore district. Read more: Bumper production of mango: Chapainawabganj farmers are all smiles

Farmers are all smiles thanks to the bumper production of mango in Chapainawabganj district. Mango is the main cash crop in Chapainawabganj, and this year the price of mango seems profitable in the local market. The mango farmers are busy nurturing their orchards in the district. After meeting local demand, a huge quantity of different varieties of mangoes are being supplied to other parts of the country. Also read: Mango harvesting in Rajshahi begins Thursday According to the district’s Department of Agriculture Extension, there are 37,588 hectares of mango orchards and the government has set a target to produce 4,40,956 metric tonnes of mango this year. Production of mango this year has exceeded that in the previous years. Last year, 3.25 lakh metric tonnes of mango were produced in the district. This correspondent spoke to some mango farmers. They said, due to the hot temperatures and inadequate rain, the average size of mangoes are a tad small, but ripe, juicy mangoes will start flooding the local markets within next week.

A record production of mango is likely in Rajshahi district due to favourable weather condition. This year Rajshahi district might break all its previous records of mango production,  said Abdullah Hil Kafi, Additional Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Department. As additional 572 hectares of land was brought under mango cultivation this year, Fruit Research Centre in Rajshahi under the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) is expecting a record-breaking output. Read: Mango wonder: 200 varieties in a single tree in Chapainawabganj Mango trees are in full bloom making Rajshahi farmers also hopeful of bumper yield this year. In the 2020-21 season, there were mango orchards on 17,943 hectares of land in the district that yielded about 2.17 lakh MTs of mangoes  and Tk 86.85 crore mangoes were sold. In the 2019-20 season, 17686 hectares of land mangos orchards yielded about 1.80 lakh MTs of mangoes  and Tk 71.81 crore mangoes were sold. According to the Agricultural Extension Department, in the current (2021-22) season, mangoes have been cultivated on 18,515 hectares of land. “This year mango production target was set at 15.85 MTs per hectare. We are expecting a record breaking yield of mangoes in Rajshahi district because of the increased cultivation,” said Dr Abdul Alim, Chief Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station in Rajshahi. He said, “The weather so far this season is favorable for mango cultivation as soil retained enough water due to sufficient rain in the last monsoon. The trees got enough nutrition as many farmers cultivated mangoes beside vegetable farming lands.” Read: Rajshahi 'to own' Fazli mangoes “Though the mango buds are less than the previous year, we are expecting a record breaking yield because of the increased cultivation,” he added. Abul Hossain, a mango farmer from the Charghat area having a total of 2.68 hectares of mango orchard said, “Last year, the mango production was good but due to Covid-19 induced lockdown the farmers did not get good profit. But this year ripe mangoes will reach the market immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr which might bring a good profit for us,” he said.

The Rajshahi district administration fixed May 15 to begin mango harvest this year with the Guti variety. The harvest date for harvesting Gopalbhog has been fixed from May 20; Ranipasand and Laxmanbhog from May 25; Khirsapat or Himsagar from May 28; Lengra from June 6; Amrapali, Fazli and Surma Fazli from June 15; and Ashwina and Ashwina-4 varieties from July 10. A meeting at the DC office decided on the dates on Thursday. Read Chapainawabganj mango growers pin hope on weather Strict action will be taken against harvesting unripe mangoes. The administration and police will monitor the harvesting procedures strictly. However, due to the change in weather, if mango ripens in any area before the stipulated time, farmers will be able to harvest them after informing the concerned upazila administration. Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Jalil said that the harvesting of unripe mangoes was stopped in the last few years by fixing the date of harvest. Read Mango collection to start in Natore from May 20 "Besides, we’ve managed to convince our customers that no chemicals are used to ripen mangoes in Rajshahi," he said. On the other hand, unripe mangoes are falling down from the trees due to continuous heatwaves sweeping across the district. While talking to UNB, many farmers expressed concerns about not achieving the expected yield this year. Read Drought dashes dreams of litchi growers in Kushtia However, the agriculture department has assured that although surplus production might not be achievable this year, there is no doubt about reaching the target.