Local farmers and officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are expecting a bumper output of the highly tasty and fibreless local variety Haribhanga mango in the district this season, reports BSS.
"Tender Haribhanga mangoes are growing fabulously amid favourable climatic condition and frequent rainfalls. All these predict excellent production this season," said Horticulture specialist of the DAE at its regional office here Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
The farmers have cultivated the mango on 2,500 hectares of land this season in the district and its adjoining areas, 300 hectares more than last year, as its cultivation is expanding every year all over Rangpur division.
The mango is largely being cultivated in the orchards in most of the villages under Mithapukur upazila as well as in dozens of villages under Badarganj, Sadar, Pirganj, Gangachara, Taraganj, Pirgachha, Kawnia upazilas of Rangpur.
"Besides, cultivation of Haribhanga mango has been expanding fast in neighbouring Parbotipur, Nababganj, Fulbari, Birampur and Chirirbandar upazilas of Dinajpur in recent years," Islam said.
He said harvest of Haribhanga mango will begin in June to continue till July next when it's per kg price would rise up to Tk 300 to 400 in place of Tk 70 to 80 per kilogramme in the beginning of harvesting season.
"The farmers produced 180 tonnes of Haribhanga mango worth Tk 1.40 billion (140 crore) last year and production of the mango might be around 225 tonnes worth Taka 1.70 billion (170 crore) this season if the climatic condition remains favourable," Islam added.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said, harvest of Haribhanga mango would begin from middle of June next with a possibility of a record production of the fruit following encouraging climatic conditions this time.
"The frequent rainfalls in recent weeks helped in smooth growth of the tender Haribhanga mangoes predicting to excellent production of the comparatively big-size mangoes having huge demand both at home and abroad," he said.
"The commercial basis cultivation of Haribhanga mango has been expanding every year in the district and other adjoining places bringing self-reliance to many farmers in recent days," Moniruzzaman said.
Haribhanga mango growers Mostafizur Rahman of village Moulaviganj Purbopara and Abu Mian of village Khoragachh under Mithapukur upazila here said they were expecting bumper production of Haribhanga mango this year.
"I have been cultivating the tasty mango during the past eleven years and already achieved self-reliance through successful farming of the highly profitable mango in my orchards," Lutfar Rahman of village Tekani in the same upazila.
Similarly, successful farmers Bablu Master and Golam Mostafa of village Podaganj, Abdus Salam of village Akhirarhat, Abu Taher, Solaiman Ali and Aiyub Ali of Podaganj village in the upazila also predicted bumper Haribhanga mango production this season.