Naogaon is facing a growing crisis in its push towards producing safe, export-quality fruit as a severe shortage and sharp price hike of fruit-bagging materials disrupt cultivation plans across the district.
The district, one of the country’s largest mango-producing regions, produces vast quantities of mangoes every year, a significant share of which is also exported abroad. To ensure pesticide-free and export-standard produce, farmers have long relied on the fruit bagging method. This season, however, thousands of growers are struggling to continue the practice due to a shortage of bags and a sudden rise in prices.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Naogaon currently has mango orchards on around 30,310 hectares of land, with a production target of approximately 422,000 tonnes this year.
The major mango-growing upazilas—Sapahar, Porsha, Niamatpur and Patnitala—account for nearly 70 per cent of total cultivation. Around 16 varieties, including Amrapali, Gopalbhog, Khirsapat, Himsagar, BARI-4, Gaurmati and Banana Mango, are grown in the region.
Farmers typically carry out fruit bagging between April and mid-May to reduce pest attacks, prevent surface blemishes and minimise pesticide use. The method significantly improves fruit quality and increases market value. While unbagged mangoes sell for up to Tk4,000 per maund, bagged mangoes can fetch between Tk7,000 and Tk8,000 depending on variety.
However, this year the situation has changed sharply. Last year, a single fruit bag cost between Tk3.70 and Tk3.80. This season, prices have surged to as high as Tk 6.20 per piece, while supply has remained insufficient. As a result, production costs have risen and many farmers have failed to bag the planned volume of fruit.
In Porsha Upazila’s Bondhupur village, young agricultural entrepreneur Raihan Alom said he owns orchards across 220 bighas of land and had planned to bag around 500,000 mangoes. “Due to the shortage, I could not bag Amrapali, Banana Mango and BARI-4 varieties as intended. Ultimately, I managed to bag only Gaurmati mangoes,” he said, adding that the higher cost of bags has significantly reduced his expected profit.
Another farmer, Babul Akhtar from Saderdanga village, said he had planned to bag 50,000 mangoes this year after a successful experience last season, but managed only 10,000 due to limited availability. “Without bagging, pest attacks have increased, affecting quality,” he said.
Entrepreneur Sohel Rana of Barendra Agro in Sapahar said he required around 300,000 bags but could source only 15,000 this season. “The shortage could cost me nearly Tk2.5 million in potential income,” he added.
Farmers say the expansion of new orchards and increased adoption of safe cultivation practices have sharply raised demand for fruit bags, but supply chains have failed to keep pace.
They also allege that complex export procedures prevent them from selling directly abroad, forcing them to depend on intermediaries and reducing their profit margins. They believe simplifying export mechanisms would strengthen both the local economy and farmers’ income.
Naogaon DAE Deputy Director Homayra Mondol said fruit bagging is a crucial component of safe mango production and that rising interest in good agricultural practices has increased demand. “Late-season demand surge led to supply shortages from private suppliers,” she said, adding that efforts are underway to coordinate with suppliers to ensure adequate availability in future seasons.
