Mango trees continue to sprout, predicting huge output

As the winter season says goodbye, tens of thousands mango trees have been flowering in Rajshahi region, famous for the production of the seasonal delicious mango fruit nationwide.

Huge blooming of mango trees at this stage predicts an excellent production of the most popular fruit in the region this season, if the climatic conditions remain favourable till its harvesting period.

Abul Hossain, a farmer of Mazar Diar village in Paba upazila, said buds started appearing in mango trees this season before the end of winter.

Motaleb Hossain, a mango grower of Charghat upazila, said he has over 200 mango trees in his orchard. He has cultivated a large variety of mangoes this season. He expects a handsome profit for the blooming of mango trees this year.

Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station (FRS) Dr Shafiqul Islam said the prevailing climate condition is suitable to blossom in mango trees.

Mango trees were also seen sprouting early at various places. Hundreds of thousands of mango trees have already bloomed and worn eye-catching looks with huge flowers.

Every year new mango orchards, especially of Amrapali, BARI mango-3 and 4 varieties are rapidly increasing in the districts, said agriculturists.

Naogaon was long known for paddy cultivation, but for the last couple of years it became the highest mango-producing district, surpassing the mango capital of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj.

Dr Islam said Chapainawabganj still has the highest amount of land covered by mango orchards, but Naogaon saw a one-and-a-half-times increase in its mango farm acreage annually over the last 10 years, according to the latest official data given by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

The area covered by mango orchards in Naogaon increased by 14,925 hectares in the period; while the increase was 9,520 hectares in Chapainawabganj.

Mango farming is not only increasing, but it is changing as well. Instead of creating mango orchards for a hundred years or more, farmers are targeting only 10 years.