Despite an increase in cultivation of mango and a huge flowering of mango buds, the production of mango in Rajshahi and Naogaon districts during the current season may face a setback as the green, young mangoes are withering away in a large number due to the extreme heatwave that sweeps the region for over a month.
According to sources, this year (2022) in Rajshahi district mango cultivation increased in 582 hectares of more land than that of previous year and the flowering of mango buds was also more than that of the previous year and the officials of Agriculture Extension department predicted a bumper production of mango surpassing all previous record in the district this year. But the truant, ubiquitous climatic condition in Rajshahi district is poised to dash the hopes as a huge young, green mangoes are falling away due to extreme heat and absence of rainfall in the district for a long time.
According to DAE, Rajshahi, mango was produced on 17,943 hectares of land during 2020-'21 FY and the average production of the fruit per hectare of land was 12.10 metric tonnes totalling a production of 217,128 metric tonnes of mango in the district and the mango farmers earned about Tk 86 crore 85 lakh by selling the fruit.
Dr Abdul Alim, Chief Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Horticulture Research Centre informed that mangoes have been cultivated on 18,515 hectares of land during the current 2021-'22 fiscal and the average production of mango per hectare of land has been fixed at 15.38 metric tonnes. Additional Director of DAE, Rajshahi, Adullahil Kafi infomed, this year a huge flowering of mango buds was very inspiring for a bumper mango production. But, due to a long absence of rainfall and extremely hot weather the smooth growth of mango is being badly hampered. If the rainfall occurs within a short time, there will be a bumper mango production in the district, he predicted.
Meanwhile, mango farmers in Nagaon district are worried about the ongoing heatwave and absence of rainfall for a long time. They are apprehending a loss if such extreme climatic conditions exist further. The farmers of the district mentioned, though there was a huge flowering of mango buds and young mangoes on the trees this year, many of those are withering away due to a drought like situation and excessive hot weather. Moreover, absence of rain and the heatwave were turning the green mangoes black and the stems of those mangoes are getting loose due to absence of sufficient sap and ultimately those are falling away.
Mango farmer Anowar Hossain of Sapahar upazila informed, he cultivated mangoes on 12 acres of land. He said the extreme heatwave was withering away the young, green mangoes. Having no scope to use water at the feet of those trees, he is appreheing a debacle in mango production and a huge loss.
Another mango farmer Mahfuzur Rahman informed, there was a huge budding of mango and huge young mangoes all over the branches of the trees. But, a long absence of rainfall and hot sunshine is damaging the young, green mangoes. Moreover, the absence of rainfall is also paying a toll on the smooth growth of mango fruits. In Naogaon district, mangoes have been cultivated on 29,475 hectares of land this year and the target of production of mango has been fixed at 358,435 metric tonnes.
Shamsul Wadood, Dy Director of DAE, Naogaon advised the farmers to spray water on the trees and pour huge water at the trunks and feet of trees to save the young, green mangoes from falling. However, he hoped, by countering the adverse climatic condition, the mango production would surpass the target in the district during the current season.