RAJSHAHI, March 14, 2019 (BSS) – Fruit setting process of mango is going
on smoothly amid favorable climatic condition predicting bumper production of
the most popular fruit in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research
Center, here said the fruit setting stage is progressing now well and the
mango trees has started wearing eye-catching looks in the orchards, gardens
and homestead areas amidst favourable climatic condition.
Mango, a leading seasonal cash crop of the northwestern region, dominates
the economy in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
Dr Alim said even in early January this year, some mango trees were seen
budding. In this connection, he mentioned sudden fluctuation of temperature
might be a cause of such early budding.
He said the temperature during Mid-December to early January dropped to 10
to 5.3 degrees celsius which usually comes down in late January.
The sudden drop of such temperatures during winter was a clear indication
that the climate was changing.
Besides, he mentioned an early flowering mango was a response of the
sudden climate change.
According to official sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) and Regional Fruit Research Station, over 85 percent mango trees have
bloomed abundantly during this season on an average.
Talking to BSS, Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE), said the fruit setting stage is progressing well and farmers
are contacting the officials and experts to take extensive care for better
growth of the tender mangoes.
He suggested the farmers for proper nursing of their orchards and gardens
at this stage and controlling pests’ attacks, if any with temperature rise,
by mango hoppers now, or sometime later by weevil or other insects for better
mango production.
Abdul Hannan, a mango grower, said, “I have sprayed pesticides on the mango
trees to protect those from pest attack and have good sprouting. I’m hopeful
of good production if favourable weather prevails.”
He also said mango gardens, set up for commercial purpose, have doubled in
Rajshahi region recently. Mango yield has also doubled during last couple of
years.
DAE sources say there are about 30 lakh mango trees of different ages and
varieties on some 32,816 hectares in the region with creation of many mango
orchards and increased mango farming in the homesteads in recent years.
Dr Alim Uddin hoped for a bumper mango production following massive blooms
if the climatic conditions, fluctuations in temperatures, rainfalls, attack
by pests and insects remain normal for the next couple of months.
If the extents of seasonal nor’westers remain within the tolerable limits,
there is a huge possibility of achieving a record bumper production of all
varieties mango this season, the expert predicted.
He said that the farmers have been showing more interests in mango farming
in recent years to increase its productions get huge profits in achieving
their economic wellbeing everywhere.