Mangoes dropping early in Rajshahi amid heatwave

Mango yield in Rajshahi district, known as the capital of mango, has been affected due to the prevailing severe heat wave condition and lack of rains, causing anxiety among farmers and traders.

The district and many other regions of the country have been experiencing intense heat waves for about a month, which has caused the water bodies and ponds in the Barind region to dry up, resulting in the early drop of mangoes and litchi pods.

Local mango growers and traders said the amount of buds in the mango trees of the district was much less than the previous year.

Crop lands have been dried up due to absence of rains which is affecting mango and litchi production as well, they said.

Already 30 percent mango pods have been dropped, said the mango growers.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year, a total of 19,602 hectares of land have been brought under mango cultivation, which is 24 hectares more than the previous year.

The DAE authorities set a target to produce 2,60,164 tonnes of mangoes this year. But it is feared that even half of the target won’t be achieved due to the high rate of mango dropping.

Bagha and Charghat upazilas of Rajshahi district are top in mango production but this year farmers are worried over possible losses.

Abdul Mannan, a mango grower of Bagha upazila, said “Mangoes are produced in large quantities in Bagha upazila. But this year, most of the trees lack mangoes, making the farmers and traders disappointed. About 30 percent of the mango pods have dropped due to drought. Mango traders are worried about getting back the production cost.”

Dr Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre, said,  “The quantity of pods is good and if those sustain there is a possibility of good yield. But who can say about the heat wave?  The current heat wave is causing problems not only for mangoes but also for litchi. To produce any crops, fruits and vegetables, water is needed. If there is a shortage of water, all of these will be affected.”

Umme Salma, assistant director of Rajshahi DAE, said “Mangoes fall for different reasons, even rains cause fall of mango pods. This year small trees have enough mangoes while big ones have a little less. But dropping mango pods is normal. Farmers who failed to nurture the trees properly are witnessing more fall of mangoes.”