Growers of the mango capital Chapainawabganj are faced with uncertainty as they are fearing the mango buds may fall off the trees before maturing due to insufficient rain.
On the other hand, the mango orchard trade is not seeing much activity due to the ongoing political unrest, which has become another cause for concern for the farmers. Usually, the orchards exchange hands of traders multiple times soon as the trees bear flowers and buds.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension of the district, the mango orchards of there flowered extensively this year. But because of the sudden rise in temperature and lack of rain farmers are watering the roots and spraying insecticides to save the buds from falling off.
There are 18,58,000 mango trees on 24,260 hectares land in the five upazilas of the Chapainawabganj. In Shibganj upazila, there are 9,83,480 trees on 13,480 hectares; in Nawabganj, 3,19,980 trees on 4,155 hectares; in Gomostapur 2,34,825 trees on 2,915 hectares; in Bholahaat 1,52,900 trees on 2,050 hectares; and in Nachol 1,32,815 trees on 1,660 hectares.
Ansarul Islam, an orchard owner in Kansat, said: “We are having to use insecticides to save the buds. We are also consulting agriculture specialists because the buds may fall off if there is no rain in the next few days. We are watering the trees ourselves.”
Nurul Islam, a mango trader from Shibganj, said: “The law and order has not yet become normal in the upazila as there were multiple deaths recently due to political violence. Shibganj has the most number of mango orchards but the thousand-crore mango business here is facing an uncertainty because of the ongoing blockade-hartals.”
Chapainawabganj Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Saiful Islam said: “This being an on-year for mangoes, the upazila production goal is set at 2.5 lakh metric ton. The production may be hampered because of the draught but it will not affect the goal that much.”
