The name of delicious mangoes first brings Chapainawabganj to mind, and the district's economy depends on mangoes. This year, however, growers are anxious about the crop.

Even in the month of Falgun, spring has not come to the mango trees. By now they should be full of blossom, but most have none. Agriculturists said the effects of climate change and severe cold may be among the main reasons.

Visits to Islampur and Barogharia in Sadar upazila, and Kansat, Shyampur, Binodpur, Monakasha, Chhatrajitpur, Ranihati, Chamabazar, Bhangabridge, Abbasbazar, Sonamasjid and Mianpara in Shibganj, found that while some Lakshmanbhog and Khirsapat trees have blossomed, most other trees have none. Growers are spending their days worrying.

Asraful Islam, a mango grower of Islampur union in Sadar upazila, told Jago News that last year all the trees had blossomed by 15 February. "This year February is almost over, but hundreds of trees still have no blossom. The few that do have very little. We have spared nothing on spraying and irrigation. We hear it is because of the extreme cold."

Imran Ali of Shyampur union in Shibganj upazila has a mango orchard of about five bighas, but his trees have not blossomed as expected either. He told Jago News that he has suffered losses in the mango business in various ways for several years. "This time the trees have still not blossomed, and the blossoming time is nearly over. I don't think the blossom will come now."

Isarul Islam, a mango grower of Monakasha union in Shibganj, said trees in Chapainawabganj have blossomed less this year because of erratic weather. Some late varieties have blossomed, but on the big trees small young leaves have come out at the shoot tips instead of blossom. "It seems we will face losses," he said. He has orchards of about 10 varieties, including Lakshmanbhog, Fazli and Ashwina, on four bighas, but they have hardly blossomed.

Ahsan Habib, member secretary of the Chapainawabganj Mango Foundation, said the trees are not blossoming this year because of the long cold wave and extreme cold, which has made them anxious. The Department of Agricultural Extension, however, has said that if proper irrigation, spraying and other technologies are applied correctly, blossom will come naturally within a few days and the cold will have no effect.

Ismail Hossain Shamim Khan, general secretary of the Shibganj Mango Producer Co-operative Society, said the cold was much more intense this year and the climate has changed, which is mainly why the orchards have not blossomed. "We are very worried because the blossoming time is almost over. Growers are already struggling, as they have not been getting a good price for mangoes for several years, and the price of pesticides has risen several times over."

He said there is no incentive for mango growers. If the government provided one for the district's growers, losses would be reduced at least somewhat. With less blossom, mango production may also fall this year, which would hurt the district's economy.

Palash Sarkar, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chapainawabganj, said that since the trees blossomed heavily last year, this year can be called an off season. The cold has reduced blossom, especially on big trees, but blossom is good in the Barind area. So far about 40-45 percent of trees have blossomed. If the weather warms, more blossom may come, but it will not produce a good yield.

Chapainawabganj has 7,579,825 mango trees on 37,604 hectares.

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