The mango growers and traders in the Rangpur region have become frustrated as Harivhanga mango farming has faced a severe setback this year due to the heatwave.
The highest temperatures rose to 40 degrees Celsius in the region this year which was not earlier experienced. Moreover, gusty wind along with little rainfall has been frequenting for the past few days due to the impact of cyclone Remal.
The size of the mango is smaller than usual. Green mangoes are falling from the trees because of the prevailing foul weather.
Farmers and agriculturalists hoped to get a good yield of the variety this year. They are trying hard to reduce the loss of production by spraying the plants and supplying water in the mango orchard.
The seasonal delicious fruit has strengthened the rural economy of the region for the last few years creating huge job generation. It has got a huge demand as the variety is the best quality and the taste is uncommon which is far better than the mango variety of Rajshahi. It has been supplied largely elsewhere in the country and even abroad.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rangpur, some 3345 hectares of land have been brought under mango cultivation in five districts-– Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari of Rangpur region this year. Of them, Harivhanga has been cultivated on 1,910 hectares of land. Per hectares’ production target is set at 15.6 tonnes. The total production would be around 30,000 tonnes while the farmers produced around 24,000 tonnes on some 1,865 hectares of land last year. The production target, however, could not be achieved considering the current trend of fruiting in the orchards.
The cultivation of Harivhanga mango is expanding on a commercial basis every year in the districts as the variety has huge demand in the national and global markets. The farmers found it more profitable than other crop farming. Mango growers would get bumper output this year if the weather remained favourable.
A good number of mango orchard flourished at Padagonj, Khoragas, Tekani, Zarullapur, and Lalpur Ghoragas Uttarpara and Mollatari under Mithapukur upazila and Gopalpur Kutubpur, Sardarpara, Mollahpara, Rostamabad, Lohanipara unions under Badarganj Upazila of the district.
Abdur Rahman, a mango grower in the Padaganj area under Badarganj upazila of the district said plants in the orchards were filled with budding early this year. The farmers nurtured the plants by spraying and applying medicines to prevent the falling of the flowers. They hoped to get bumper output and huge benefits. Unfortunately, the draught-like situation and the extreme hot spell in the month of April-May hit the farming severely. Flowers and green mangoes have fallen from the trees sharply due to the inclement weather.
Arifin Islam, a grower and a trader, who developed a mango orchard on 25 acres of land at Akhirhat village under Mithapukur Upazila, said the number of green mangoes in the plants is found less than the last year. Flowers wither away due to extreme heatwaves and drought. Green mangoes are falling from the trees due to heat injury and recent gusty wind.
“We are spraying the plants and supplying water in the orchard to maintain a moderate temperature amid the extreme heat waves. At least 30 per cent of the production of fruit would fall short this year,” he added.
Mostafizur Rahman, another farmer cum trader at Moyenpur village of the upazila said, the mango production has got a severe setback in the districts this year. Mangoes size and numbers in the garden are found small compared to last year.
He has spent Tk 3 lakh for mango farming on his 2.5 acres of land this year. The weather was not favourable for fruiting. A significant portion of flowers and green mangoes have been withered away during the repeated heat wave in the month of April-May. He would have to incur huge losses in farming if the price does not remain high. He got Tk 4 lakh profit spending the same amount last year.
Khorshed Alam, a trader at Padaganj, a wholesale mango market at Badarganj upazila said, the fruit’s price would be higher at the beginning of this season due to production shortfall. Per maund of mango was sold at Tk 800 last year at the beginning of the season while it would be at least Tk 1,500 this year.
Deputy Director DAE Rangpur, Abdullah Al Mamun said, that Harivhanga, is a very delicious and highly fleshy variety of mangoes. Farming has been increasing on a commercial basis in the districts every year as the farmers get benefits. It requires less investment, pesticide and labour. There are around 4,000 commercial mango orchards in the districts. The farmers who have high lands, at least have a small mango orchard. About 30 thousand people in the division have been directly engaged in farming which has strengthened the rural economy.
Our field-level agriculture officers remained active in the farming zone. They are advising the farmers regularly to take care of the mango plants. The farmers have been spraying water and medicine in the plants and irrigating water at the orchards in the evening if required.
The harvesting of the mango is set to begin from June 15 this year, said sources.
