RAJSHAHI, Apr 08: The production of mango in Rajshahi district is likely to increase during the current year.
Sources said the number of mango trees has been increased this year, the climatic condition also remained favourable and due to taking care of the trees, there was no report of virulent pest attack from any place of mango producing region of greater districts of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore so far. Though there were two storms and rain with hailstorm during the recent past, there was no major damage of young mangoes from anywhere from the districts. Even the Meteorological department in Rajshahi indicates no forecast of any storm and windy weather during the next summer. All these symptoms have been seen as a good omen for mango production by the agriculturists this year.
Anowarul Haque, convener of Agro Producers Association in Rajshahi, said mango growth condition is good this year. The climatic is still favourable. Being failed to get satisfactory price of other crops and fruits last year, many farmers have planted mango trees in their field. If there was no large storm and excessive heat, the farmers were hopeful of harvesting a good yield of mango this year. Many farmers were also using 'bagging' process to produce chemical and insecticide free mangoes.
According to a source of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the mango production in the country was continually increasing for last several years. In 2014- 2015 fiscal year the total production of mango was 1.0 million tonnes while in 2015'-16 it increased to 1.16 million tonnes and in 2016-2017 the production was mango was estimated at 1.25 million tonnes and this year the production is expected to cross 1.4 million tonnes.
According to sources, there are more than 100 varieties of mango in the country of which 45 varieties are mostly cultivated. Of those the mango named Langra, Fazli, Gopal Bhog, Khirsapat, Mohonbhog, Rani Pasand, Himsagar, Laxmanbhog, Lakna, Bombai and Kuapahari are the most famous.
While two more varieties developed by local agriculturists names Amrapali, Mallika, Surjopuri and Haribhanga mango got wide popular in the region. In addition mango developed by names Bari-1, Bari-2, Bari-3 and Bari-4 also getting popular among farmers for their high quality and huge production.
According to sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Rajshahi, Mango is cultivated in nearly 100,000 hectares of land in the country and major of the figure is cultivated in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts. DAE was now expanding the cultivation of mango in almost all other districts of the country and even at the brackish soil beside the sea, sweet mangoes are being cultivated successfully. Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute was also conducting research on producing all season mango. Already the scientists of BARI have developed Bari-11 variety of all season mango. The variety is expected to be released for the farmers soon.
