Farmers are expecting a bumper production of Haribhanga mango, a fibreless, fleshy and highly tasty local variety in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) at its regional office here predicted a super bumper output of the mango this time following favourable climatic conditions.
Harvest of Haribhanga mango will begin from the third week of June to continue till July next in the region.
Though there were fewer rainfalls during the past couple of months, recent rainfalls helped a lot in smooth growth of the tender fruit resulting in comparatively big-sized Haribhanga mango having huge demand in local markets.
Hundreds of farmers have cultivated Haribhanga mango on 2,500 hectares of land in all five districts of the region, including on 1,865 hectares of land in Rangpur alone, this year.
“We’re expecting a production of 25,000 tons of Haribhanga mango worth about Tk175 crore this season,” Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its Rangpur regional office Agriculturist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam told BSS today.
Last year, farmers produced over 24,000 tons of Haribhanga mango in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region.
“Commercial basis cultivation of Haribhanga is expanding every year in the region and bringing self-reliance to hundreds of farmers,” Islam said.
Haribhanga mango is mostly being cultivated in the orchards in Podaganj, Khoragach, Ruposhi, Rangatipara, Bangaon, Paikarerhat, Rukniganj, Tekani, Moyenpur, Kadamtola, Lalpukur, Shukurerhat, Sikarpur, Fulchowki, Tilakpara, Kashimpur, Ucha Balua, Matherhat and many other villages in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur district.
The mango is largely being cultivated in dozens of villages under all other seven upazilas of Rangpur as well as other places of Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari district under this agricultural region.
“Besides, cultivation of Haribhanga mango is expanding fast in Parbotipur, Nababganj, Fulbari, Birampur and Chirirbandar upazilas of Dinajpur district and many other areas all over the division in recent years,” Islam added.
Additional Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Masudur Rahman Sarker farmers have cultivated Haribhanga mango on 1,865 hectares of land in Rangpur alone and the tender mangoes are growing superbly predicting plentiful output this season.
“The per kg price of Haribhanga mango remains between Tk60 and 80 in the beginning and rises up to Tk300 to 400 at the end of the harvesting season in July,” Sarker added.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the DAE, Department of Agriculture Marketing and district administration have taken steps to ensure smooth marketing of Haribhanga mango to assist farmers in getting fair price of their produce.
“Besides, a number of youths of Rangpur city and Mithapukur upazila have taken steps for online marketing of Haribhanga mango’ to reach the tasty fruit to people across the country through courier services,” Sarker added.
Successful Haribhanga mango cultivators Amjad Hossain Paikar, Shajahan Mian, Hasan Mian, Nazrul Islam, Ansar Ali and Abdus Salam of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur predicted a super bumper production of the mango this season.