Early blossom has started to appear on mango trees in Rajshahi, though full flowering will take about two more months. Meanwhile farmers are busy caring for their trees in the final stretch, and with good weather this year they are optimistic about the harvest.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi, mango was grown on 19,603 hectares in Rajshahi in the 2024-25 fiscal year, producing 249,952 tonnes. For 2025-26 the cultivation target is 19,603 hectares and the production target 246,000 tonnes.
Spraying against fog and pests
On visits to mango orchards in several upazilas of Rajshahi, farmers were seen spraying water mixed with pesticide on their trees and giving them extra care. Because of the fog of the past few days, they are using fungicide sprays to protect the blossom from fungal attack.
Amirul Islam, a mango farmer in Paba upazila, said: "Early blossom has started appearing this year. We are digging around the base of the trees, watering and spraying. The spells of cold and fog are much less intense this year than last year, so we hope for a good yield."
Mahtab Ali, a mango farmer in Charghat, said that thanks to caring for the trees all year round, a good mango yield now comes every year. "I am caring for my trees again this year. Blossom has already appeared on one or two trees. But if hoppers, or sucking insects, are not controlled at the right time, the mango yield could fall," he said.
Officials optimistic
Dr Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer of the Rajshahi Fruit Research Station, said Rajshahi's orchards had not yet received enough blossom, and full flowering would come around February-March. Good care of the trees from now on and work on disease control will bring good blossom, he said, adding that with better weather than last time, he hoped the trees would bear a good amount of mangoes.
Nasir Uddin, deputy director of the DAE in Rajshahi, said the department was giving farmers the necessary advice for good mango production in the field. Each tree needs pesticide twice a year for a good yield, and assistant and sub-assistant agriculture officers are working at field level, he said. He gave last year's mango yield per hectare in Rajshahi as 12.75 and this year's target as 12.8, stated in the report as "hectares", and said on that basis mango production would be good this year.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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