BSS, Rajshahi :
Fruit setting process of mango is going on smoothly amid favorable climatic condition predicting bumper production of the most popular fruit in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
The fruit setting stage is progressing well and the mango trees have started wearing eye-catching looks in the orchards, gardens and homestead areas amidst favourable climatic condition.
Mango, a leading seasonal cash crop of the northwestern region, dominates the economy in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts. Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station (FRS), hoped for a bumper mango production following massive blooms if the climatic conditions, fluctuations in temperatures, rainfalls, attack by pests and insects remain normal for the next few months.
He mentioned that over 95 percent mango trees have bloomed abundantly during this season on an average and the fruit setting stage is progressing well and farmers are contacting the officials and experts to take extensive care for better growth of the tender mangoes.
If the extents of seasonal nor’westers remain within tolerable limits, there is a huge possibility of achieving a record production of all varieties mangoes this season, the expert predicted.
On behalf of the FRS, many of the grassroots mango farmers were imparted training to yield maximum output side by side with safe production after the best uses of modern technologies, Dr Alim added.
The farmers were given need-based training on how to protect mango from immature dropping from tree.
Talking to BSS, Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said the farmers have been showing more interest in mango farming in recent years to increase its productions get huge profits in achieving their economic well being everywhere.
He suggested the farmers for proper nursing of their orchards and gardens at this stage and controlling pests’ attacks, if any, with temperature rise, by mango hoppers now, or sometime later by weevils or other insects for better mango production.
Agriculturist Haque said there are around 35 lakh mango trees of different ages and varieties on some 32,816 hectares in the region with the creation of many mango orchards and increased mango farming in the homesteads in recent years.
The number of growing mango trees has been increasing in the region for the last couple of years. Mango, the leading seasonal cash crop of the northwestern region, vitalizes the overall economy of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
Abul Kalam Azad, a mango grower, said he sprayed pesticides on the mango trees to protect those from pest attack and have good sprouting. He is very much optimistic of good production if favourable weather prevails.
