As mangoes grow from blossom to young fruit to full size, pests and diseases begin. Orchard owners and growers say they must apply various pesticides well in advance to protect mangoes from insects and fungus.

Growers say spraying early leaves no unwanted marks on the fruit, and even rain does no harm. They add that buyers are more attracted to sprayed mangoes.

Growers also complain that agriculture department field staff actively encourage spraying. One said agriculture officers sit in the shops where they buy chemicals and tell them which to apply.

Experts say pesticides and fungicides are used at very high levels. Dr Sharafuddin, chief scientist at the Horticulture Research Institute, Chapainawabganj, said a study around 2008 found growers who used less sprayed at least 15 times, and those who used more sprayed up to 63 times, mainly to stop fruit dropping.

To move away from this, the agriculture department has begun fruit bagging: when a mango is 25 days old, it is wrapped in a bag, after which no more than three sprays are needed. The question remains whether all mangoes can be bagged.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.