Satkhira's Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is anticipating a sale of Tk225 crore worth of mangoes this season, as the district's farmers are expected to have a higher yield of mangoes due to favourable weather conditions.
Mango cultivators and traders have reported that this year mangoes have been cultivated on 4,115 hectares of land in the district.
There are 5,299 government-listed mango gardens and 13,100 farmers in the district. The production target has been set at 45,500 tons.
If there are no major natural disasters, the production is set to meet the country's demand, and the mangoes can be exported abroad.
Dhaka TribuneAccording to DAE, due to good soil, wind and weather, the district has been producing a lot of mangoes including Himsagar, Langra, Amrapali, Mallika, Gopalbhog, Gobindobhog, Bombay and Golapkhas for the past few years.
The mangoes from this district will be exported to England and some European countries for the ninth time this year, they noted.
Farmers have also observed that Satkhira's mangoes ripen earlier than those of other districts in the country. Hence, it makes them the first to be sold across Bangladesh.
Despite facing losses in mango cultivation due to natural disasters in the past few years, this season's favourable weather may help make up for it.
Dhaka TribuneA local, Mizanur Rahman, said: “The mangoes here are incomparable. Himsagar is famous. Langra and Amrapali are in high demand. I bought 15 gardens last year and have taken 20 leases. So far the weather has been favourable.”
Tauhidul Islam of the Rajarbagan area of the municipality said: "Last year I faced a loss due to low production. This time I witnessed a bumper yield. If the garden is leased, it costs a lot of money. A lot of money is also spent on garden maintenance, pesticide application, post-harvest marketing, labour. I hope to make some profit if the yield is good this year.”
Dhaka TribuneSultanpur Bazar's vendor, Matiyar Rahman, said: "This year, green mangoes are being sold for Tk1,400-1,500 per mound. Wholesale businessmen buy green mangoes from farmers at a lower price and sell them in different parts of the country, including the capital.”
Rahman mentioned that last year's ripe mangoes were sold for Tk50 per kg and added: "This year, the price will be even higher. If the mangoes are large and look beautiful, they are sold for up to Tk80 per kg.”
Deputy Director of the district's DAE Saiful Islam said they are expecting a record-setting yield this year if the weather remains the same.
He also said the district's farmers have been trained for safe and toxin-free mango production and marketing.
Dhaka TribuneThe agricultural officer noted: "If everything goes well, this year we will export Satkhira's mangoes to shops in Italy, France, Denmark, Germany, and England."
Last year, as many as 100 tons of mango of different varieties, including Himsagar, Langra, Gobinbdabhog, and Amrapali, from Satkhira will be exported to some European countries for the eighth time.
For this, 500 farmers of the district have been trained in non-toxic and safe mango cultivation. As many as 14 companies will export these mangoes.
