RANGPUR, Mar 25 (BSS): Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are expecting bumper mango production following smooth formation of tender fruits after massive blooming in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
"The fruit setting stage is progressing superbly amid favourable climatic condition giving mango trees eye-catching looks in orchards, gardens and homesteads," horticulture specialist of the DAE at its regional office in the divisional town Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said on Tuesday.
He said the farmers have brought 7,250 hectares of land under mango cultivation during the current 2018-2019 fiscal and massive blooming amid favourable climatic condition making the farmers hopeful to get a bumper production of the fruit this time.
"The farmers cultivated mango on 7,122 hectares of land producing 83,764 tonnes of fruit worth Tk 3.35 billion during the 2017-2018 fiscal against 7,091 hectares producing 79,667 tonnes worth Tk 3.20 billion during the 2016-2017 fiscal in the region," he said.
The farmers are showing keen interest on commercial basis expanded farming of mango after getting repeated bumper productions with lucrative price and excellent profits in recent years in the region.
At this stage, Islam suggested the farmers for proper nursing of their mango trees and controlling pests' attacks, if any, like mealy bug with temperature rise or later by weevil, mango hopper and fruit fly during fruit formation period for better production.
"The farmers can spray pesticides as per suggestion of field level agriculture officials at the recommended dose to growing tender mangoes sometime later if the temperature marks further rise during the fruit formation process," Islam added.
In addition to this, he suggested the farmers for spraying fungicides, if necessary, at the recommended doses during the fruit formation period for better growth of tender mangoes and to get better size and production.
Talking to the news agency, Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said farmers have already taken adequate preparation to take intensive care of growing tender fruits so that mango could grow in huge quantity to bring desired profits.
"The farmers are mostly cultivating popular mango varieties like 'Gopalbhog', 'Haribhanga', 'Lengra', 'Fazlee', BARI Am-2, BARI Am-4, 'Nakfazlee', 'Khirsapati', 'Mohanbhog', 'Chyatapori', 'Lakhna' and 'Amrapali' in the region," he added.
Talking to the news agency, mango farmers Abdus Salam, Mohammad Ali, Solaiman Ali and Mubarak Hossain of different villages in Mithapukur and Badarganj upazilas here expected bumper mango output from their orchards this season.
Regional additional director of DAE Md Shah Alam said if fluctuation in temperatures, rainfall, attacks by pests and insects and seasonal nor'westers remained within tolerable limits, formation of mango would be excellent to yield bumper output this season
"The farmers should contact the field level agriculture officials, experts and extension workers of the DAE and properly control attacks by hoppers and other pests on growing tender mangoes for better yield of the fruit," Mr Alam added.