Mango harvest badly affected by hot spell, untimely rainfall

Thanks to the hot spell and untimely rains, the growth of mangoes in the orchards of Rajshahi has been badly hampered this year.
Though the early variety of mangoes has started to appear in the markets, mango growers are apprehensive of losses in production due to weather conditions.
In the wholesale markets of Rajshahi, Charghat and Baneswarhat, the early variety of ‘guti’ mangoes is being sold for Tk. 2,000 to Tk. 2,050 per maund. The ‘guti’ mangoes are comparatively sour and have less taste; they are also smaller in size.
Along with the ‘guti’ mangoes, some of the best quality Gopalbhog mangoes are also being sold in the markets. However, all these Gopalbhog mangoes are laced with chemicals and have been ripened earlier. Gopalbhog usually starts appearing from the end of the first week of June.
Tarikul Islam, the owner of a mango orchard in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi, disclosed that the Gopalbhog mangoes which are now in the markets have all been laced with chemicals. “Gopalbhog will start appearing in the market within a couple of weeks. Afterwards, the Khirsapat mango will appear,” Islam added.
In the wholesale markets of Rajshahi, a maund (45kg) of Gopalbhog mangoes is being sold for Tk. 2,200 to Tk. 2,400.
Meanwhile, the hot spell during the time of flowering and maturing of mangoes had hampered their growth and, as a result, their sizes are not as large as those of the previous year.
There was also massive damage to mangoes on the trees as a result of greater pest attacks this year as.
The major problem the mango growers are suffering this season is related to the loss in the juice and taste of mangoes, which is caused by heat and untimely rainfall, said the owner of a mango orchard, Saidur Rahman of Bagha upazila.
Officials of the agriculture department said harvests of the juicy fruit in this major mango hub are expected to come to nearly 0.45 million tonnes this year.
However, many owners of mango groves pointed out that insufficient rainfall for a long time, nor'westers during early May, high day temperature and drought-like weather, have shaken off many green and matured mangoes.
Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the fruit has been cultivated in the current season on around 16,583 hectares of fresh land in Rajshahi. Around 25 lakh mango trees are bearing fruits this year. The target level has been set at 2,15,578 metric tonnes.
According to officials of the DAE, the area boasts 250 varieties of mangoes with different shades of colours and different tastes. Like every year, people from across the country are converging on Rajshahi city to buy quality juicy mangoes produced throughout the district and even in urban areas—though on a limited scale. Mango traders and mango orchard owners are, however, deeply concerned about mango production and the size of the fruits.
Mango grower Raihan Ali of Baneswarhat area under Puthia upazila said he had expected huge profits this year from his mango orchard by watching mango flowers on his tree in early April. But his hopes have been dashed because of untimely rainfall and extreme heat, which have destroyed almost 25 per cent of his mangoes.
Regional Horticulture Research Centre principal scientific officer Dr Alim Uddin said this year, farmers used pesticides of Cipher Methrin Group and Mancoze before budding in the trees.
Powdery mildew, a pest, was not seen this year, thanks to early use of those pesticides. But untimely rainfall and the prolonged hot spell have impacted mango production. Still, the condition of mangoes in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj district is good, he added.
Rajshahi region has a long tradition of producing popular, tasty mangoes like Gopalbhog, Lengra, Khirshapat, Ranipchanda, Mohonvog, Brindaboni, Laxhmanvog, Dhudsor, Michrivog, Rajvog, Amrapoli, Mombi Mollika and Chinichampa.

Mango harvest badly affected by hot spell, untimely rainfall

Thanks to the hot spell and untimely rains, the growth of mangoes in the orchards of Rajshahi has been badly hampered this year. Though the early variety of mangoes has started to appear in the markets, mango growers are apprehensive of losses in production due to weather conditions. In the wholesale markets of Rajshahi, Charghat and Baneswarhat, the early variety of guti mangoes is being sold for Tk. 2,000 to Tk. 2,050 per maund. The guti mangoes are comparatively sour and have less taste; they are also smaller in size. Along with the guti mangoes, some of the best quality Gopalbhog mangoes are also being sold in the markets. However, all these Gopalbhog mangoes are laced with chemicals and have been ripened earlier. Gopalbhog usually starts appearing from the end of the first week of June. Tarikul Islam, the owner of a mango orchard in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi, disclosed that the Gopalbhog mangoes which are now in the markets have all been laced with chemicals. Gopalbhog will start appearing in the market within a couple of weeks. Afterwards, the Khirsapat mango will appear, Islam added. In the wholesale markets of Rajshahi, a maund (45kg) of Gopalbhog mangoes is being sold for Tk. 2,200 to Tk. 2,400. Meanwhile, the hot spell during the time of flowering and maturing of mangoes had hampered their growth and, as a result, their sizes are not as large as those of the previous year. There was also massive damage to mangoes on the trees as a result of greater pest attacks this year as. The major problem the mango growers are suffering this season is related to the loss in the juice and taste of mangoes, which is caused by heat and untimely rainfall, said the owner of a mango orchard, Saidur Rahman of Bagha upazila. Officials of the agriculture department said harvests of the juicy fruit in this major mango hub are expected to come to nearly 0.45 million tonnes this year. However, many owners of mango groves pointed out that insufficient rainfall for a long time, norwesters during early May, high day temperature and drought-like weather, have shaken off many green and matured mangoes. Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the fruit has been cultivated in the current season on around 16,583 hectares of fresh land in Rajshahi. Around 25 lakh mango trees are bearing fruits this year. The target level has been set at 2,15,578 metric tonnes. According to officials of the DAE, the area boasts 250 varieties of mangoes with different shades of colours and different tastes. Like every year, people from across the country are converging on Rajshahi city to buy quality juicy mangoes produced throughout the district and even in urban areasthough on a limited scale. Mango traders and mango orchard owners are, however, deeply concerned about mango production and the size of the fruits. Mango grower Raihan Ali of Baneswarhat area under Puthia upazila said he had expected huge profits this year from his mango orchard by watching mango flowers on his tree in early April. But his hopes have been dashed because of untimely rainfall and extreme heat, which have destroyed almost 25 per cent of his mangoes. Regional Horticulture Research Centre principal scientific officer Dr Alim Uddin said this year, farmers used pesticides of Cipher Methrin Group and Mancoze before budding in the trees. Powdery mildew, a pest, was not seen this year, thanks to early use of those pesticides. But untimely rainfall and the prolonged hot spell have impacted mango production. Still, the condition of mangoes in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj district is good, he added. Rajshahi region has a long tradition of producing popular, tasty mangoes like Gopalbhog, Lengra, Khirshapat, Ranipchanda, Mohonvog, Brindaboni, Laxhmanvog, Dhudsor, Michrivog, Rajvog, Amrapoli, Mombi Mollika and Chinichampa.