Rajshahi mango bazar. Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Aug 10, 2025 (BSS)- Sohel Rana had joined the weeklong 'Bangladeshi  Mango Festival 2025' at Souq Waqif in Qatar from June 25 to July 1 with 4,500 kilograms of mango from Naogaon against expenditure of around Taka 250 per 
kilogram.

But, fortunately, he sold his mangoes at around Taka 22.50 lakh, Taka 500 per 
kilogram. In Bangladesh's markets, the maximum price of the seasonal fruits  is Taka 4.5 lakh.

In Sapahar upazila of Naogaon district, Amrapali mangoes were sold at Taka 75
per kilogram on an average this year. But, the mangoes were sold at Taka 500 per kilogram in the Middle East markets.

So, there are enormous prospects of changing the fate of scores of farmers if their mangoes are exported. Simultaneously, a big change in this region's agro-based economy will come.

After returning from Qatar's Mango Fair recently, Sohel Rana, managing director of Barendra Agro Park at Sapaher, revealed the prospects.

He cultivated mangoes on around 200 bigha of land and has been exporting mangoes to European markets since 2021 on a limited scale.

Prospects for mango export from the region are indeed bright. Both the acreage and yield of mangoes are increasing, with a growing number of farmers shifting to mango cultivation due to its profitability.

Dr Azizur Rahman, additional director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said the region is seeing a surge in mango production, and there are plans to establish mango processing industries to further boost exports.

Mango orchards and their yield have doubled in the last decade, indicating a significant transformation in the region's agricultural landscape. 

Farmers are increasingly converting triple-cropping paddy fields into mango orchards, suggesting a profitable shift towards mango farming.

There's a strong potential to export mangoes worth around Taka 200 crore from the Rajshahi region. 

He said the government is emphasizing agro-processing, and there's a focus on  adding value to mangoes to increase their export value. 

The DAE is actively training farmers on production, harvesting, and post-harvest management techniques to ensure high-quality mangoes for export. 

There are calls to upgrade the Rajshahi Airport to facilitate direct export of processed agricultural products, fresh vegetables and fruits. 

Gopalbhog, Langra, Himsagar, Rani Pasand, Fazli, and Aswina are among the  popular mango varieties known for their taste and suitability for export. 

While mangoes are grown throughout the region, Paba, Charghat, and Bagha  upazilas in Rajshahi district, Sapahar and Porsha upazilas in Naogaon district, and Shibgonj, Kansat, Rohanpur, and Sadar in Chapainawabganj are known for their quality mango production.

The prospects for mango export from Naogaon are indeed bright, with the district emerging as a significant mango export hub. Increased mango cultivation, coupled with the adoption of methods like fruit bagging for export quality, is boosting the export potential. 

Talking to BSS here Saturday, retired DAE Director Monzurul Huda said mango  cultivation in Naogaon has been expanding, with farmers increasingly opting for mango farming over other crops like paddy due to its profitability. 

The use of techniques like fruit bagging is enabling farmers to produce export-quality mangoes, minimizing the need for pesticides and reducing fruit fly infestation. 

Naogaon's mangoes are now reaching international markets, including Europe and potentially China, diversifying export destinations and earning valuable foreign currency. 

The current mango production in Naogaon is expected to be the highest ever, with a significant portion earmarked for export. 

The government is also providing incentives to exporters, further encouraging mango exports from the region. 

While the outlook is positive, challenges like the need for more investment, advanced technology, and better processing facilities remain. 

The establishment of mango processing industries could further boost the region's economy by adding value to the produce.

Anwarul Haque, president of the Rajshahi Agro Food Producer Society, said mangoes from Rajshahi have already reached European and other international markets in recent years, opening up new avenues for foreign currency earnings.

He noted that the adoption of the fruit-bagging method has significantly increased, resulting in poison-free mango production by eliminating the need for pesticides and reducing fruit-fly infestation.
 
"Training on best agricultural practices has enabled many farmers and value-chain actors to access high-value export markets," Haque added. "Although exports are nearly twice as profitable as local sales, they require more investment, greater care, and advanced technology."
 
Prof Farid Uddin Khan of the Department of Economics at Rajshahi University remarked that mango has become the third-most important agricultural  commodity in the region after rice and potatoes.
 
However, he emphasized the urgent need for broader export access. "Although the region produces a large quantity of mangoes annually, only a small portion is exported. We must explore more foreign markets," he added.