Mango traders expect a good business of mangoes this year as it is the ‘on year’ for the fruit according to its alternate bearing nature.
Meanwhile, a good number of trees have borne flowers and the blooming trees show a good prospect of mangoes this year.Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Abul Kalam Azad told BSS that it is the ‘on year’ for mangoes.Meanwhile, more than 60 percent trees have borne flowers and if the days remain hot and sunny, the rest of the trees would be in full bloom within a few days, Azad said.Although last year was the ‘off year’, about 2,41,000 tonnes of mangoes were produced in the district and this year the production is expected to cross the last year’s quantity, he added.He said in the last year the area of mango orchard was 23,830 hectares and this year it has increased to 24,250 in the district.Dr. Shofiqul Islam, chief scientific officer (CSO) of Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS) in Chapainawabganj, said mango flowers bloom well in 25 to 30 degree celsius temperature.If there is cloud, rain or fog during the flowering period, it gets greatly hampered, he added. He expects a good production this year as the weather is still favourable.Mango, being the most delicious fruit of summer, has gained a multiple dimension in the field of business.As a result, people of different sectors have been getting prepared to have the highest benefit during the current mango season.According to the local culture, the original owners of the orchards do not keep those under their possession till harvest.They sell the orchards for one to five years and these are sold
several times in this way while several groups of traders do business and get benefit.The last buyer harvests the mangoes and brings them to the markets
from where another group of traders purchases and takes it to other districts. The local consumers also purchase from these markets.While contacted, president of Chapainawabganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry M Abdul Wahed said, there is a transaction of mangoes of Tk. 1,000 crore to 1,500 crore every year in the district.The main business of mangoes is conducted at four large markets here which are at Chapainawabganj, Kansat, Rohonpur and Bholahat.He alleged that the local DAE and RHRS officials hardly help the mango farmers with proper counseling.The actual owners of gardens sell the gardens for several years to the mango traders and some of the unscrupulous mango traders use Indian hormone medicine on the trees to get bumper production.He demanded of the DAE and RHRS officials that they would help the mango farmers with proper counseling so that they can grow adequate mangoes to avoid import of mangoes from the neighbouring country. -BSS
