Mango cultivation under contract farming is growing in Rajshahi. These mangoes are being sent abroad, especially to Europe, and the first consignment has already left. This is raising foreign earnings, and growers are profiting.

According to the Rajshahi district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rajshahi mangoes have been exported since 2016. In 2023, 9.9 tonnes were exported, earning farmers a profit of about Tk 8 lakh. In 2024, about 3,497.35 tonnes of mangoes have been produced for export. Last year 80 growers signed contract farming agreements; this year 118 have.

Agriculture officials say the contract farming standards require hygienic production, safety and food quality, environmental protection, cleanliness and farm-worker health. Hygienic production includes following the rules on fertiliser, irrigation and pesticide use, using approved seed and planting material, and moderate use and management of chemicals. Safety and food quality cover post-harvest storage and transport.

This season Rajshahi's first shipment comprised 1,800kg from Sadi Enterprise, owned by farmer Shafiqul Islam of Kaligram in Bagha upazila, and 200kg from the orchard of a grower named Biddut Hossain. "We are well prepared this time," Shafiqul Islam said. "Demand for contract farming is rising. Mangoes go abroad through it because it has accountability."

"When I started, I grew mangoes on 50 bighas. Now I grow them on 300 bighas," he said. "Interest in contract farming is rising. At first there were 14 or 15 growers; now 20-25 are doing it, in every union. But not all mangoes go abroad, mainly Khirshapat, Totapuri, Fazli and Amrupali. These varieties are in demand, so their production is rising. But not everyone wants to export. They are afraid, because it has to follow set rules."

"A packing house is being built here. Once it is ready we won't have to take mangoes to Dhaka for packing. I have also heard Rajshahi airport may become available. If these happen, exports will boom and farmers will want to export. Then Rajshahi's mangoes won't be left for us to eat; they will all go abroad," Shafiqul said. "Transport costs are also higher. Cargo costs more than before: it used to be Tk 240 a kg, now it is Tk 400 a kg. Exports were higher in 2023, but there is a good chance we will exceed 2023 this year."

Hafizur Rahman Khan, general secretary of the Rajshahi Food Producers' Association, said: "Contract farming is increasing in Rajshahi and there is demand abroad. Production is higher this time. But we are not getting the support we need from the government. Cargo fares here have risen far above those in the neighbouring country. There is some problem every year. We have raised several problems in writing. Some have been solved, but not fully."

"If the government could give some subsidy on cargo... The fare we pay falls on the farmer. What we earned last year was big for Rajshahi, something that had never happened before. This year there are fewer mangoes and fares have gone up. Facing obstacles in shipping, we will fall behind, though we will try not to. Our neighbouring country has a very prosperous mango export sector. We can fulfil the demand that comes to us. With government help we will get a strong response in mango exports, and foreign money will come in too."

Bagha upazila agriculture officer Shafiullah Sultan said: "We inspect mangoes grown under good agricultural practices and issue a certificate. The Shyampur Packing House and Quarantine Centre in Dhaka then issues another certificate, after which the mangoes go abroad. We are working with farmers on this and providing the training and supervision needed."

Mst Umme Salma, acting deputy director of the DAE in Rajshahi, said: "Contract farming is increasing day by day and producing safe mangoes. Not all of them are exported. In 2022, 1,700 tonnes of mangoes were exported from the whole country; last year it was over 3,500 tonnes. We have a mango export project. Demand for safe mangoes is growing not only abroad but also in superstores at home."

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