Farmers across the Rajshahi region are expecting a bumper mango harvest this season as orchards burst into bloom, raising hopes of recovery after losses caused by last year’s heavy rainfall.
Rows of mango trees across orchards in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj are now covered with blossoms, painting the fields in shades of green and yellow.
Agriculture officials say the favourable weather and widespread flowering suggest a strong yield this year, provided there are no major storms or natural disasters in the coming weeks.
Field visits in several areas show blossoms appearing on nearly every tree, while early varieties have already begun forming small green fruit.
Farmers say the heavy flowering has revived optimism among growers and traders who suffered financial losses last year.
Many growers reported that although production was good in the previous season, prolonged rainfall damaged a large portion of the crop, forcing prices down and leaving farmers struggling to recover production costs.
To avoid a repeat of that loss, growers say they have increased orchard care this season by applying balanced fertiliser, clearing weeds, ensuring regular irrigation and spraying pesticides to protect blossoms from pests and disease.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, mango orchards now cover 92,552 hectares across the four districts of the greater Rajshahi region, with about 34.96 million trees.
So far, around 63 per cent of the trees have produced blossoms, and officials expect flowering to reach nearly full coverage as the season progresses.
Last season the region produced about 260,000 tonnes of mangoes in Rajshahi, 450,000 tonnes in Chapainawabganj, 432,000 tonnes in Naogaon and 134,000 tonnes in Natore.
Agriculture officials say production could exceed those levels this year if weather conditions remain favourable.
Statistics show that mango orchard areas have declined slightly in Rajshahi district but expanded in neighbouring Naogaon.
Rajshahi now has orchards covering 19,062 hectares, down from 19,603 hectares last year, with about 3.7 million trees and blossoms appearing on roughly 60 per cent of them.
In contrast, Naogaon’s orchard area has increased to 30,500 hectares from 30,300 hectares a year earlier, with more than 20.5 million mango trees and blossoms appearing on about 71 per cent of them.
Chapainawabganj has orchards covering 37,487 hectares, with blossoms on about 70 per cent of trees, while Natore has 5,069 hectares of orchards with flowering on around 53 per cent of trees.
Mohammad Ali, a mango grower in Puthia, said the weather has been favourable for blossom formation since the start of the season.
“The temperature and sunshine are suitable for flowering. If this weather continues for another ten days, more blossoms will appear,” he said.
Bagha Upazila grower Shafiqul Islam said flowering this year is better than last season.
“If there is no storm or natural disaster, we expect a large harvest,” he said.
Rajshahi Region Department of Agricultural Extension Additional Director Azizur Rahman said officials are optimistic about the season.
“We expect a very good mango harvest this year. Agriculture officers are working in every upazila to support growers and improve export opportunities,” he said.
Researchers at the Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre said the weather conditions this season have been particularly favourable for blossom formation.
Economists, however, say long-term trends show some farmers shifting away from mango cultivation due to declining profits.
Rajshahi University Economics Department Associate Professor Kazi Zulfikar Ali said some growers are cutting mango trees as returns fall compared with rice cultivation.
“Farmers once believed mango cultivation was more profitable than paddy, but rising rice prices and stable demand are encouraging some to return to rice farming,” he said.
