The hills of Khagrachhari are now covered in mango blossom. From a distance the green hills look as though wrapped in a golden carpet of buds. The blossom has arrived heralding the fruit season, and its sweet scent drifts on the air.

Mango orchards on the hill slopes in various upazilas of the district are in full bloom, giving local growers fresh hope. They are giving the orchards extra care, arranging irrigation and keeping a close watch for pests and diseases.

But there is anxiety alongside the hope. Growers fear that the ongoing severe heat and lack of rain in the hills will make buds drop in many orchards. Without adequate irrigation it is hard to keep the buds on the trees in a drought, they said.

Khagrachhari now grows Amrapali, local Kanchamitha, Mallika, BARI-4 and BARI-11 mangoes, as well as expensive international varieties such as Surjer Dim (Sun's Egg), Kiu Zai and Red Palmer. Besides meeting demand in the district, local entrepreneurs are supplying these mangoes to other parts of the country and creating the potential for exports.

Mongshitu Marma, a farmer from Kamalchhari village in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila and owner of Green Life Agro Farm, said: "The trees have a lot of blossom this year and we are caring for them regularly. But if it doesn't rain or the temperature stays high, there is a risk the buds will drop. If there were permanent irrigation, production would increase further."

Local growers said most orchards in the hills are on sloping land, which makes permanent irrigation difficult, so they rely largely on rain. In their view, a water irrigation system or modern water storage and supply built under a government project could prevent up to 70 to 80 per cent of bud drop.

According to the agriculture department, about 10,000 farmers have grown mangoes on about 5,000 hectares in Khagrachhari district this season. With new orchards set up every year, the district's mango production is rising.

Md Nasir Uddin, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Khagrachhari, said: "The district's favourable weather and soil quality are very suitable for mango farming, which is why new orchards are being set up every year. The agriculture department is giving growers advice and technical support. If proper care can be ensured, a good yield is possible again this year."

He added that with timely irrigation, pest control and care adapted to changing weather, hill mangoes could play a more important role in the country's market.

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