By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, May 28, 2025 (BSS)- Mango marketing has gradually been gaining momentum amid arrival of different varieties of the delicious fruit, including the branded Gopalbhog and Lakhna, in the region over the last couple of days.

Picking of the seasonal delicious fruit began on May 15 last, generating employment for many people in tacking, sorting, transportation and marketing to a greater extent.

Many farmers are currently harvesting Gopalbhog, Ranipachhand and Lakhna and local and indigenous varieties of mangoes.

Within the next couple of days and weeks, many other delicious varieties, including Himsagar or Khirshapat, Langra, Amropali, Fazly, BARI-4, Ashwina, Gourmati and Ilamati will hit the markets in phases.

"We are now harvesting Gopalbhog, Lakhna and the native varieties commonly known as Guti or Chosa, including Sagarika, Boishakhi, Chapra and Chorsha," said Abdur Razzaque, a mango grower from the Darusha area in the district.

He said there are numerous mango varieties, which will ripen naturally over the next couple of days and weeks, one after another.

While talking to BSS on Tuesday, Anwar Hossain Polash of Bagha Upazila said the Gopalbhog is being sold at Taka 30 to 45 per kilogram on an average based on size and quality at present.

Large native mango varieties were being sold at Taka 1,400 per maund, while the smaller ones fetched Taka 800-1,000 in the initial stage. Compared to the previous season, the prices are almost equal.
 
Sohel Rana, a resident of Namajgram village under Puthiya Upazila, who has been trading mangoes for around 15 years, leased around 500 trees this year.

He told BSS that the yield is good, and he hoped for better trading in the coming day.

Within the next couple of days and weeks, mango trading is expected to gain momentum in different markets of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts as newly harvested mangoes appear in the markets.
 

Markets famous for mango business, including Baneswar, Shaheb Bazar, Haragram, Upashahar, Shalbagan, Rajabari, Godagari, Kansat and Rohanpur, will take on an eye-catching look.

Baneswar is the largest mango market in Rajshahi and is known as the "mango capital" of Bangladesh. It becomes a bustling hub during mango season, offering various varieties.

The market sees a surge in activity as the season begins, with farmers picking and selling mangoes according to the district administration's mango calendar.

Umme Salma, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said there are nearly 3,363,986 mango trees spread across 19,578 hectares of land in Rajshahi. We expect a yield of 13.20 tonnes per hectare this year.

Masudur Rahman, President of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the mango production target set this year is expected to generate a market value of around Taka 10,000 crore in the region.

He said Bagha Upazila is the leading mango-producing area, accounting for one-third of Rajshahi district's total yield. Last year, 36 tonnes of mangoes were exported to 10 countries from the upazila.
 
Anwarul Haque, President of the Rajshahi Agro Food Producer Society, said mangoes produced in Rajshahi have been exported to various European and other countries over the past few years, creating a scope for earning foreign currency.

He also said mango farming using the fruit-bagging method has been gradually increasing in recent years. This method helps eliminate pesticide use, prevents fruit-fly infestation, and boosts poison-free mango production.

He added that many farmers and value chain actors received training on best agricultural practices, enabling them to explore high-value export markets.

Export is nearly twice as profitable as selling in local markets. However, additional costs and care are required to prepare mangoes for export, including the use of modern technologies.

Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer at the Regional Fruit Research Station, told BSS that mangoes have been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of land in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts this year, with an expected yield of 2,44,000 tonnes.

 
In Naogaon, 30,300 hectares of land have been brought under mango cultivation, with a production target of 3.86 lakh tonnes, while another 4,823 hectares in Natore are expected to yield 56,021 tonnes.