Rajshahi: Exotic mango varieties such as "Catimon" from Thailand are gaining attention in Rajshahi, along with traditional varieties like Gopalbhog, Langra, Himsagar, and Fazly. These exotic varieties are particularly popular in the Barind tract, known for its vast agricultural potential.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the farming of these exotic mango varieties is becoming increasingly popular among local growers. They are adopting methods like Ultra High Density Mango Planting (UHDMP) and fruit bagging, which have led to higher yields and the potential for increased income, including export opportunities. UHDMP involves planting mango trees closer together than traditional methods, allowing for more trees per unit of land.
Farmers have reported significant success with this approach, as it allows them to cultivate more trees and harvest more mangoes on the same land area. Sohel Rana, an entrepreneur from Sapaher Upazila in Naogaon, has been successfully cultivating eight exotic varieties, including banana mango, red palmer, miyazaki, chiangmai, and kuejail, alongside traditional ones for the past few years. This season, he is selling banana mango at Taka 5,000 to 12,000 per mound in local markets and plans to expand his farming of exotic varieties in the future.
The Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Abul Kalam Azad, stated that exotic varieties are growing well alongside native varieties in the district. "We are inspiring the farmers to cultivate the exotic mango varieties," he said, adding that the cultivation of these varieties will expand in the future.
'Catimon', a Thai mango variety, is notable for producing mangoes year-round in Rajshahi, breaking the traditional three-and-a-half-month harvesting season from May to mid-August. According to sources, the exotic variety's trees contain both mangoes and flowers or budding simultaneously, yielding crops three to four times a year compared to the single season of conventional varieties.
Rafiqul Islam, a farmer from Durgapur Upazila, established an orchard of the non-conventional mango variety in Maria village, inspiring many co-villagers to follow suit. He planted 1,100 saplings on 25 bigha of land and saw flowers appear the following year. Despite initial low yields due to the trees' smaller size, he harvested three to five kilograms per tree on average in the latest season and hopes for four harvests this year.
Traditionally, mango harvesting and marketing occur from mid-May to mid-August, but the Catimon variety remains available in local markets. Currently, these mangoes are sold at Taka 8,000 per mound, equivalent to Taka 200 per kilogram. Dr. Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of the Regional Fruit Research Station, mentioned ongoing research on the Thai variety to assess disease infestation. However, the variety has already reached farmers, creating a new dimension in mango farming.
Dr. Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of DAE, emphasized that adopting these varieties is not only boosting mango production but also enhancing the local economy through export opportunities and increased farmer incomes. Farmers are receiving training on modern techniques like UHDMP and fruit bagging, enabling them to implement these methods effectively and tap into higher-value markets.
Dr. Rahman noted that mango farming using the UHDMP method has gained popularity, providing growers additional income. The fruit bagging technique involves covering mangoes with bags to protect them from pests, leading to higher-quality mangoes appealing to buyers, including those in export markets. Mango cultivation covered 87,307 hectares of land, with an expected production of around 10 lakh metric tonnes worth approximately Taka 10,000 crore in the Rajshahi region, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj districts this year.