Favourable weather has given Natore a good mango crop this season, but low market prices mean growers are making little profit, and many who bought orchards are losing money.
Mangoes have been grown on 5,693 hectares in Natore this year, with a production target of 68,316 tonnes. The agriculture department says the crop could be worth about Tk 3,400 crore.
Under a district administration decision, orchard owners and farmers began picking all kinds of guti (local seedling) mangoes on 15 May.
Market prices
The markets are now full of different varieties. Among guti mangoes, Atir Kalua sold at Tk 40 and Tk 50 a kg and other varieties at Tk 30 to Tk 40 a kg. Kalua is now at the end of its run and Khirsapat has arrived; Khirsapat and Langra sell at Tk 40 to Tk 50 a kg.
Buyer Rintu said he bought Khirsapat at Tk 50 a kg. The mangoes taste good and are not small, and he thinks this year's harvest is good and prices somewhat lower.
Growers squeezed
Palash Khan, a mango farmer in Natore, said his orchard has all kinds of mango trees and the good weather has brought a good yield, but he is not getting a fair price. On top of that, growers must give 5 kg extra per maund as "dhalon". Retail buyers do not get that extra, but farmers must give it or traders will not buy, and the wholesale houses are the same, so mango traders are losing out.
Faridul Islam, a farmer in the Moukhara area, said he bought a five-bigha mango orchard hoping for a Tk 2 lakh profit, but low prices mean that will not happen.
Md Habibul Islam Khan, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Natore, said the district's mango yield is good this season, and if there is no natural disaster, orchard owners, farmers and others involved will profit. Mangoes have been grown on 5,693 hectares, with a potential market value of about Tk 3,400 crore, he said.
The 2026 mango calendar
Under the 2026 "mango calendar", picking and marketing of all guti mangoes began on 15 May. Harvest dates were then set as follows:
- 25 May: Gopalbhog
- 30 May: Rani Pasand and Khirsapat
- 2 June: Laxmanbhog
- 12 June: Langra
- 15 June: Amrapali
- 25 June: Fazli, Haribhanga and Mohanbhog
- 4 July: Mallika
- 10 July: BARI-4
- 20 July: Ashwina
- 10 August: Gourmoti
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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