The weather was favorable for mango cultivation in the Rajshahi region. As there were no natural calamities like storms or hailstorms, mango production was good. Due to this, the price of mangoes was relatively low. Despite that, the Department of Agriculture has estimated that mango production will contribute to the country’s economy with approximately 7,000 crore taka.
Among the districts, Chapainawabganj has contributed around 3,000 crore taka, Rajshahi around 1,450 crore taka, Naogaon around 2,000 crore taka, and Natore around 385 crore taka through mango sales, as reported by the respective Deputy Directors of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Efforts are being made in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, and Natore to further increase mango cultivation. In Natore, a new project has been initiated where around 5,747 hectares of land are used for mango orchards. The target is to achieve a total production of 77,132 metric tons of mangoes, with an average yield of 42 metric tons per hectare. Similar progress has been observed in the other three districts as well.
The Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Natore, Md. Abdul Wadud, stated that while some varieties of mango were sold at 30 taka per kilogram, others saw prices increase up to 70 taka per kilogram. To establish a balanced price, they have set an average rate of 50 taka per kilogram for mangoes from Natore. Hence, they are hopeful to generate around 3,850 crore 66 lakh taka from mango sales.
The income from mango sales in the other three districts has also been calculated. In Chapainawabganj, from an estimated 37,588 hectares of mango orchards, the target is to achieve a production of 4,035,843 metric tons. In Rajshahi, from around 19,578 hectares of mango orchards, the target is set at 2,058,450 metric tons. In Naogaon, from approximately 30,000 hectares of mango orchards, the target is 378,000 metric tons of mango production. Overall, the target for mango production from the four districts’ 92,913 hectares of mango orchards is 1,152,506 metric tons.
Among the four districts, mango prices were the best in Chapainawabganj this time. The largest mango market in the country saw an increase in prices at the Kansat area of Shibganj Upazila in Chapainawabganj. Compared to here, the prices at the largest mango market in Rajshahi, Baneshwar of Puthia Upazila, were relatively lower. The price difference between Baneshwar and Kansat ranged from 300 to 500 taka per maund.
Even in the main selling point of mangoes in Sapahar Upazila, Naogaon, wholesale mango prices were relatively lower this time.
Mizanur Rahman, a mango grower and businessman in Baneshwar, said, “Currently, we have a good quantity of Ashwina mangoes on the trees, and there are also some Fazli mangoes. The Amrapali mango season has ended in Rajshahi’s orchards, but we are still getting some Amrapali mangoes from Naogaon. In Baneshwar, these mangoes are being sold at wholesale prices ranging from 2,000 to 2,600 taka per maund. Fazli mangoes are being sold at wholesale prices from 2,000 to 2,500 taka per maund. However, the price of Ashwina mangoes is currently very low, and they are being sold at 700 to 800 taka per maund.”
He further added, “Transporting one maund of mangoes from the tree to the market costs around 200 taka. If the price is so low, how will the farmers be able to cover their labor costs or pay the rent to the orchard owners? Farmers who leased Amrapali orchards in Rajshahi might suffer losses this time. But in Kansat, the higher mango prices can lead to profit.”
On Saturday (July 22), while Ashwina mangoes were sold at 700 to 800 taka per maund in Rajshahi, the same type of mangoes were sold in Kansat at 300 to 400 taka per maund more.
Mango grower Sarowar Hossen from Telkupi area in Shibganj said, “We had a good mango yield, and we have also received good prices. The exact profit can be calculated after the completion of mango sales.”
Dr. Palash Sarker, Deputy Director of Chapainawabganj District Agricultural Extension Department, said, “When we produce quality Amrapali mangoes, we get better prices. In my district, around 70% of the mango trees are Fazli, but still, we have achieved good quality Amrapali mangoes. The prices are also satisfactory.”
Shamshul Wadud, Additional Director of Rajshahi Division of the Regional Agricultural Extension Department, said, “No one from Chapainawabganj and Naogaon can deny that they had a good season this time. Two out of three people in Rajshahi can say the same. Altogether, we are seeing the mango season positively.”
