A few years ago the country's best mango varieties were Fazli, Himsagar, Langra or Gopalbhog. Now Amrapali has upended the rankings and taken the top spot, leading in cultivation, exports and popularity.

Released for cultivation in 1996, this BARI Aam-3 variety developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Gazipur spread widely in the market under the name Amrapali from 2009-10. Within just a decade and a half it has become the most widely grown variety, with the largest share of production and exports. About 80 per cent of the mangoes exported from Bangladesh are Amrapali.

Recent Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) data show that Amrapali alone occupies a quarter of the land under the main varieties. Last year (2025) mangoes were grown on 2,07,000 hectares, of which 1,39,466 hectares were commercial orchards. Amrapali covered the most land of any single variety, 36,425 hectares.

Among other popular varieties that year, Ashwina covered 13,121 hectares, Fazli 11,702 hectares, Langra 11,615 hectares, Khirsapat 8,828 hectares, Gopalbhog 7,004 hectares and Himsagar 4,998 hectares.

In other words, Amrapali is now grown on many times more land than the traditional Langra, Fazli or Khirsapat, and its spread is several times that of newer, attractive varieties such as Katimon, Mallika, Banana Mango and BARI Aam-4.

Researchers say the country has more than 72 mango varieties, of which 16 to 18 are grown commercially.

Data show that Bangladesh exported 2,194 tonnes of mangoes last year (2025), about 75 per cent of them Amrapali.

According to farmers and agricultural experts, Amrapali trees are small, so more can be planted per hectare. The variety also bears regularly and tolerates disease comparatively better than others.

It also keeps longer, with ripe fruit staying good for many days. Its intense sweetness and fine aroma keep demand high, so farmers are profiting more from it.

As a result, while the mango capital once meant only Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, Amrapali has brought large-scale commercial mango growing to Naogaon and the hill districts as well. It is also grown commercially in 30 other districts, and cultivation of the variety has grown faster than any other in the past decade.

Dr Md Sharaf Uddin, senior scientific officer at BARI's Horticulture Research Centre, told Jagonews24: "This mango is ahead for three main reasons. The first is popularity: it became popular very quickly. Second, it keeps well naturally for a long time and does not rot easily. It stays good for 13-14 days on its own."

The last reason, he said, is sweetness: Amrapali's sweetness level is about 26 per cent, the highest of all mangoes.

Mohammad Arifur Rahman, director of the DAE's exportable mango production project, told Jagonews24: "Amrapali exports are rising every year. About 75-80 per cent of the mangoes exported each year are Amrapali."

"Bangladeshi mangoes are popular in ethnic markets abroad. This mango is tasty and keeps well, which suits it for export," he said.

Munir Hossain, a farmer in Sapahar upazila of Naogaon, said: "Commercial mango farming here began with Amrapali. It is profitable, has strong disease resistance, and because the tree is small you get a good yield from little space."

"Because of its popularity, the price stays good every year. Amrapali is a hybrid variety that bears fruit from the second year after planting," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.