Mango buds have appeared on the trees two weeks ago due to favorable weather conditions this season. The Agriculture Department has set a target of 386,000 metric tons of mango production for the current season.
Mango farmers fear losses even in the year of high mango production if the domestic market and export activities do not pick up pace this season.
It is learned that buds have appeared on about 90 percent of the trees in the district’s mango orchards. Mango buds have already appeared on 50 percent of the trees.
The Mango Farmers and Agriculture Department said that this is the on-year of the mango season in Chapainawabganj, i.e. the year of high yield. In addition, due to less fog, buds have appeared in large numbers in the district’s mango orchards at the beginning of the season. Farmers are busy with various maintenance activities including pesticide spraying and irrigation to prevent the buds on the trees from falling.
Chapainawabganj district, known as the mango capital, has 81,52,490 mango trees of various ages, including centenarians.
According to the Agriculture Department, there are 81,52,490 mango trees in Chapainawabganj this year and the area of mango orchards is 37,504 hectares. Due to favorable weather conditions, almost all the trees have budded. On average, 90 percent of the mango trees in the district have budded.
There are 1,109,900 mango trees in Sadar Upazila. Of these, 90 percent have budded. Of these 90 percent, some have already sprouted mustard seeds and 55 percent have sprouted mango seeds the size of peas.
There are 2,274,025 mango trees in Shibganj Upazila. Of these, 85 percent have budded. Of these 85 percent, 35 percent have sprouted mustard seeds and pea seeds.
There are 7,96,100 mango trees in Gomostapur Upazila. Of these, 96 percent have budded. In the meantime, small mango buds have appeared on 40 percent of the trees.
There are 30 lakh 4 thousand 330 mango trees in Nachol upazila. Of these, 93 percent have buds. In the meantime, mustard and pea-sized mangoes have been observed on 70 percent of the trees.
There are 9 lakh 68 thousand 135 mango trees in Bholahat upazila. Of these, 95 percent have buds. Currently, 45 percent of the trees have mango buds.
In this regard, mango farmer Abdul Hannan said that the weather has been favorable so far this year. A lot of buds are sprouting on the trees and buds are coming out. Mango buds will come out on most of the trees in the next two weeks.
I hope that there will be a bumper harvest this year. However, even if the harvest is high this year, there is still a risk of loss. Because there is a risk of low mango prices. Besides, if mangoes are not exported or processed, farmers will be affected.
Munjer Alam Manik, General Secretary of Chapainawabganj Agricultural Association, said, “There is a huge commercial potential this year due to the high yield in the mango orchards of the district due to the effect of on-year. However, to utilize this potential, the production of various processed mango products and mango exports abroad must be increased. Otherwise, farmers are at risk of being affected even if the yield is high.”
This farmer leader demands that the Agriculture Department and the government establish a mango processing industry and invest in this sector to utilize the commercial potential of mangoes 100 percent.
Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Department Dr. Palash Sarkar said, “This time, the mango trees are budding at the right time because the weather is favorable. Those who have taken care of their mango trees have produced more buds and they have survived. However, those who have not taken care of their trees have lost some buds. The Agriculture Department is advising farmers to take proper care and attention.
He also said, “In the year of high mango production, attention is being paid to ensure that farmers get good prices. Various initiatives have been taken for mango processing and mango export abroad.
This season, the target of mango production in the district on 37,504 hectares of land has been set at 386,000 metric tons.
