Bumper Haribhanga mango production likely in Rangpur

The farmers are expecting bumper production of the highly fleshy, fibreless and tasty local variety Haribhanga mango this year as its harvest just began with excellent output in the district.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, production of the mango would be excellent following favourable climatic condition and frequent rainfalls during fruit formation period in last couple of months.

Despite drought in late April and early May last, the subsequent frequent rainfalls helped a lot in smooth growth of the tender fruit resulting to the excellent production of the aristocrat mango having huge demand both at home and abroad.

Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said commercial cultivation of Haribhanga mango has become popular and expands every year bringing huge profit and self-reliance to hundreds of farmers here in recent years.

"The farmers have just begun harvest of Haribhanga mango with a huge possibility of achieving bumper harvest this season like in the previous years," he added.

According to the DAE sources, 6,250 farmers have cultivated the mango in 4,250 small, medium, big orchards and homesteads on over 5,800 hectares this season after producing 21,000 tonnes of the fruit worth Taka 150 crore last year in the district.

"The farmers are expected to produce around 22,000 tonnes of the mango in the district alone this season as its cultivation has been expanding fast here as well as all over Rangpur division in recent years," Mesbahul added.

Mango traders Babu Mian and Fazlur Rahman at Rangpur City Market said Haribhanga mango has started appearing in the market now in the beginning of harvesting season and is selling between Taka 60 and 65 per kilogram.

"Harvest of the popular variety mango will get full momentum from the next week and continue till end of July next when it's per kg price would rise up to Taka 300 in place of Taka 60 to 65 per kg now," they said.

Successful farmers Golam Mostafa, Ansar Ali and Bablu Master of Podaganj, Lutfar Rahman of village Paikarerhat, Abdus Salam of Akhirarhat, Jahangir Hossain and Nur Islam of other villages predicted bumper Haribhanga mango production this time.

They said the produce is being marketed in the local markets now and will be sent to the capital city and other places from the next week at comparatively higher rates following huge demand despite bumper production this season.

"We have been cultivating the tasty mango in the orchards during the past 10 years and have already achieved self-reliance through successful farming of the highly profitable mango," the happier farmers said.

Source: BSS.