Rajshahi’s mango economy has come alive with the arrival of the harvesting season, as orchards across the district bustle with picking, sorting, packaging and transportation activities ahead of Eid and peak summer demand.
Farmers, traders, transport workers, commission agents and courier operators are now engaged in the seasonal trade, which is expected to generate around Tk780 crore to Tk800 crore this year if favourable weather conditions continue.
According to the district administration’s mango calendar, Guti mangoes entered the market on 15 May, while Gopalbhog varieties started arriving on Thursday.
Ranipasand and Laxmanbhog will enter the market from 25 May, followed by Himsagar or Khirsapat from 30 May.
Langra and Banana Mango are scheduled for release from 10 June, while Amrapali and Fazli will arrive from 15 June. The harvesting and marketing season is expected to continue until July.
Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension said mangoes have been cultivated on around 19,062 hectares of land in the district this season, with a production target of nearly 2,43,993 tonnes. Officials and traders expect the harvest to generate close to Tk800 crore in business transactions.
Trading has already intensified at Baneshwar Hat in Puthia, the largest mango wholesale market in Rajshahi. At the beginning of the season, Guti mangoes were sold at Tk800 to Tk1,400 per maund, while larger varieties are now selling at Tk1,200 to Tk1,400. Traders said market activity would increase further once premium varieties arrive.
A mango trader in Puthia said the size of mangoes was slightly smaller this year, but the taste and quality remained strong. He said wholesalers from different districts had already started arriving in Rajshahi and mangoes were being shipped daily to Dhaka and other cities by trucks and courier services. Online sales have also increased sharply compared to previous years.
Farmers said some early-stage mangoes dropped during the intense heatwave, but later rainfall improved fruit growth, raising hopes for a strong harvest in most orchards.
Several growers in Bagha Upazila said production was higher in many orchards than last year, although rising costs for labour, fertiliser, pesticides and irrigation have increased concerns over profit margins.
Bagha trader Abdul Khaleque said he invested nearly Tk15 lakh in mango orchards and spent another Tk2 lakh on maintenance over the past three months. “If there is no natural disaster and prices remain favourable, we hope to make a profit this year,” he said.
Rajshahi mangoes have built a strong reputation beyond local markets, with consumers across the country increasingly seeking “Rajshahi mangoes” for their quality and taste.
Officials said strict monitoring against premature harvesting and chemical use has also strengthened consumer confidence.
The district administration warned that legal action would be taken against anyone harvesting or marketing mangoes before the approved dates. Upazila administrations and agriculture officials are conducting regular field inspections.
The seasonal mango trade has also boosted Rajshahi’s rural economy, creating employment in transport, packaging, bamboo basket and plastic crate businesses, wholesale markets and courier services.
Mango researcher and river-environment expert Mahbub Siddiqui said Rajshahi mangoes were deeply linked to the region’s economy, heritage and culture. He said improved technology-based cultivation, modern preservation systems and better market management could help establish Rajshahi mangoes as a stronger international brand.
Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Mohammad Nasir Uddin said production and marketing were expected to remain positive this season unless the district faces major natural disasters.
He also said export opportunities for Rajshahi mangoes were expanding alongside domestic demand, particularly in Middle Eastern, European and Asian markets.
Traders, however, said exports still face several obstacles, including inadequate cold storage facilities, high transport costs, limited international-standard packaging systems and cargo handling complications at airports. They also pointed to a shortage of vapour heat treatment facilities, which are required for exports to several countries.
Despite the challenges, growers and traders remain optimistic that stable weather and steady prices could open new opportunities for Rajshahi mangoes in both local and international markets this season.
