Bumper Production
Mangoes flood markets in north
Different varieties of mangoes flood markets in northern districts due to good yield of the delicious summer fruit in the region this year. This photo was taken from Baneswar Market in Puthia upazila a few days ago. Photo: STAR
Markets in northern districts have been flooded with mangoes due to bumper production of the popular juicy fruit this year. Farmers, officials and experts said the fruit has achieved an all-time record bumper production this season despite the initial droughts that partially affected normal growth of the tender mangoes. Meanwhile, people are now enjoying juicy mangoes of different varieties allover as the fruit's prices are within the reach of almost everyone and much lower than last year's. Almost all varieties of mangoes except for a few exceptional ones like Lengra, Fazlee and Ashwina etc. have appeared in the markets and prices of the sweetest varieties like Gopalbhog, Nakfazlee, Khirsapati, Mohanbhog, Chyatoapori, Haribhanga and Lakhna range ranging between Tk 40 and 55 per kg. Besides, dozens of the local and indigenous varieties of mangoes are being sold at rates between Tk 15 and 30 per kg in the region. Scientist, experts and officials in the Horticulture Centre, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and agronomists said a 'super bumper' mango production will be achieved this season. They said that flowering and formation of the fruit were completed amid drought-like climatic conditions and their normal growth resumed rapidly soon after the moderate rainfalls in April and May producing comparatively bigger mangoes this time. The initial fluctuations in the maximum temperatures caused some temporary problems for mango growth but the subsequent rainfalls helped a lot and attacks by the pests and insects remained quite normal and within the tolerable limit, they explained. This year, almost 95 percent mango trees bloomed while seasonal nor'westers did not cause much damage to the tender fruits, they added. The growers are now plucking their mangoes as the traders selling the mangoes harvested from the major orchards and gardens. The DAE sources said that there are about 4.5 million mango trees of different ages and varieties on some 35,000 hectares in the region now with the creation of new orchards and increased farming in the homesteads for the last one decade. Additional Director (Plant Protection Wing) of the DAE Kamal Shariful Alam told BSS that mango farming expands every year as the growers earn huge profits by cultivating high yielding and hybrid varieties. Dr. MG Neogi of RDRS and Anarul Haque, an agronomist of Cereal System Initiatives for South Asia said the farmers are showing more interest in mango farming in recent years as it helps achieve economic well-being and self-reliance. Renowned agri-scientist Dr MA Mazid said mango production could be increased further by evolving newer high yielding varieties and educating the growers properly on use of latest technologies.
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