Excellent mango formation process marks bumper production in Rajshahi

The mango formation is going on smoothly amid favorable climatic conditions, predicting record production of the most popular juicy fruit in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.

The fruit setting stage is progressing well and the mango trees have started wearing eye-catching looks in the orchards, gardens and homestead areas.

Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station (FRS), hoped for a bumper mango production following massive blooms if the climatic conditions, fluctuations in temperatures, rainfalls, attack by pests and insects remain normal for the next few months.

Mango, a delicious seasonal fruit and source of huge earnings especially in the northwestern region, dominates the economy in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.

Alim said over 65 to 75 percent mango trees have bloomed abundantly during this season on an average and farmers are contacting the officials and experts to take extensive care for better growth of the tender mangoes.

If the extent of seasonal nor'westers remains within tolerable limits, there is a huge possibility of achieving record production of all varieties of mangoes this season, the expert predicted.

On behalf of the FRS, many of the grassroots mango farmers were imparted training to yield maximum output with safe production after the best uses of modern technologies, Dr Alim added.

Masudur Rahman, Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said the farmers have been showing more interest in mango farming in recent years to increase its production and get huge profits in achieving their economic well-being everywhere.

He said the weather so far is favorable for mango cultivation this season as soil retained enough water due to sufficient rain in the last monsoon.

The trees got enough nutrition as many farmers cultivated mangoes beside vegetable farming lands, he added.

Though the mango buds are less than the previous year, a record breaking yield is expected because of the increased cultivation, he said.

Agriculturist Rahman suggested the farmers for proper nursing of their orchards and gardens at this stage and controlling pests' attacks, if any, with temperature rise, by mango hoppers now, or sometime later by weevils or other insects for better mango production.

He said there are around 35 lakh mango trees of different ages and varieties on some 32,816 hectares of land in the region with the creation of many mango orchards and increased mango farming in the homesteads in recent years.

The number of growing mango trees has been increasing in the region for the last couple of years.

Abul Kalam Azad, a mango grower, said he sprayed pesticides on the mango trees to protect them from pest attack and have good sprouting. He is very much optimistic of good production if favourable weather prevails.