Thakurgaon, July 09 – Thakurgaon mango growers are deeply worried as at least 500 hectares of mango orchards have been submerged in floods for the last several days. They were awaiting a bumper output this season. According to farmers, some 500 hectare of mango orchards in the district went under flood waters due to torrential rain, making it difficult for them to harvest mangoes.
Besides, the natural colour of mangoes has faded with black spots and farmers are forced to sell their produce at lower prices.
In the last few years, many farmers have turned their croplands into mango orchards as it looks to be a more profitable crop than others.
Many farmers said they could not nurture their orchards properly due to the incessant rains.
Besides, they have to spend more on transportation of mangoes to Dhaka as truck owners charge excessive fare taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Taiabur Rahman, a mango grower of Bhelatoir in Pirganj Upazila, said, “I’ve to count huge losses due to fall in mango prices.”
Another mango grower, Imam Hossain, of Banbari village said, “Mango trees on my 50 bighas of land went under rainwater, and I had to collect mangoes making a raft with banana shrubs.”
SM Golam Sarwar, Pirganj Upazila agriculture officer said, “This time mangoes have partially been damaged due to huge rains.”
Aftab Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said, “This year, a total of 2840 hectares of land were brought under mango cultivation and some 44,000 mts of mangoes could be harvested as there has been good yield.”
Talking about the waterlogging, the DAE official said the rainwater may recede if there is no rain in the next few days. – News Desk with UNB
