Ariful Islam (50) is a mango grower in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. He has been in the mango business for 25 years. Each season, once fruit has set on the trees, he sells his orchard in advance to other buyers.

But this year has been different. Despite trying for a long time, he cannot sell his orchard, because the expected fruitlets have not appeared. He is spending his days in despair, and he is not alone: most mango growers in the district are in the same position.

Ariful Islam told Jago News: "I have been in the mango business for more than two decades. Every year I sell the orchard at this time once fruit has set. But this time there aren't enough fruitlets on the trees, so there are no buyers either."

"Pesticide costs have also gone up this year. If there are no mangoes, where will I find the money for these inputs? Labourers we used to get for Tk 200 now cost Tk 400. Compared with previous years, production costs will double this year," he said.

He explained that mango trees are traditionally sold twice a year: once at this time after fruit has set, and again after the harvest, when the orchard can be sold in advance for the following year. "But now neither is happening."

Suja Mia, a mango grower from Pukuria, said: "I have mango orchards of various varieties, including Khirsapat, Langra, Amrapali, Fazli and Ashwina, on about seven bighas. Every year I grow the mangoes and sell them on the tree. But this time there aren't enough fruitlets, and despite trying for a long time I can't find a buyer."

Rohidul Islam of Kansat Abbas Bazar is bent with age. He said he inherited 15 bighas of mango orchard. His only child lives abroad, so he has labourers tend the trees and sells to buyers at this time of year. But he cannot find a buyer this time, and his 15 bighas lie neglected.

Rakimul Islam, an orchard owner in Shyampur union of Shibganj upazila, said: "Because of my job, my family has lived in Rajshahi for a dozen years. We have mango orchards on more than 10 bighas of inherited land in the area. We arrange with labourers to look after the trees and sell at this time once fruit has set. Buyers come to our house to buy. But this time no buyer has contacted us. We hear there are no mangoes in the orchards."

Ismail Khan Shamim, general secretary of the Shibganj Mango Producer Co-operative Society, said orchards produced less blossom because of climate change, and rain fell when the blossom was opening, causing extensive damage. "Seventy per cent of the trees in the district have no mangoes this year. That is why buyers can't be found," he said. If mango growers could be brought under an incentive programme they would survive to some extent; otherwise the mango business could suffer.

Palash Sarkar, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said the adverse weather this year will not bring anything good for mangoes. More natural hazards may lie ahead, such as nor'westers and hailstorms, which would cut production further. "All in all, the mango production we had hoped for may not happen this year," he said.

Farmers are therefore being advised to replace old varieties with new ones, he said, because for several years mangoes have been appearing on small trees of late varieties even when the old large trees bear none.

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