Early blossom has appeared in Satkhira's mango orchards, filling the air with its sweet scent. With favourable weather and close care by orchard owners, the agriculture department expects a bumper yield. Mango has been grown on more than 4,000 hectares in the district this year, with a production target of about 71,000 tonnes.

Visits to Satkhira Sadar, Kalaroa, Tala and Kaliganj upazilas found blossom in every orchard, big and small. In some places golden blossom is peeping from the trees; in others, young fruit has started to form. Growers say there is far more blossom this year than in the past few years. Unless there is a major natural disaster or hailstorm, they say, mango production will beat all past records.

Shariful Islam, a mango grower in Satkhira Sadar, told Jagonews: "This year blossom started appearing on the trees from the end of Magh. With less fog, the blossom is quite fresh. We are regularly spraying the orchards with non-toxic medicine and fungicide. If there is no hail, we can make a good profit this time."

Abdur Rahim, an orchard owner in Kalaroa upazila, said: "I have an orchard of Himsagar and Langra mangoes on 10 bighas. This time every branch has blossomed. On the advice of agriculture officials I am giving water and organic fertiliser at the base of the trees and spraying the blossom. We are now guarding the orchard day and night so the blossom comes to no harm."

Mofizul Haque, a small mango grower in Tala upazila, said: "Mango prices were not good last year. But seeing the blossom this time, it looks like the yield will be much higher. The scent of the blossom fills the heart. I hope our mangoes will go to foreign markets too this time."

According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), mango has been grown on a total of 4,140 hectares in Satkhira in the 2025-26 season, mostly Himsagar, Amrapali and Langra. The district now has 5,299 registered mango orchards, and more than 50,000 people are directly involved in growing mangoes.

The department said demand for Satkhira's mangoes in European markets is growing every year because of their unmatched taste and aroma. Those concerned are working towards a target of exporting at least 100 tonnes of mangoes this year.

Saiful Islam, deputy director of DAE in Satkhira, told Jagonews: "Satkhira's soil and climate are highly suitable for mango growing. We are giving farmers regular advice in the field. This period after blossoming is especially important. We are advising scientific care to protect the blossom from pests and to keep the young fruit on the tree. If all goes well, the production target of 70,900 tonnes will be met this time."

He added: "Farmers have been given special training in producing safe, non-toxic mangoes, so that there is no shortfall in producing export-quality mangoes."

All in all, a golden dream now shines in the eyes of Satkhira's growers, and like the mango blossom, smiles have bloomed on the faces of thousands of them.

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