Off-year for mangoes

Mango trees in Chapainawabganj in full bloom with buds but fruiting is uncertain. The photo was taken on Thursday. PHOTO: STAR

"This year will be an 'off- year' as last year was 'on-year' with good production", said Shafiqul Islam, senior scientific officer at the Chapainawabganj Fruit Research Centre. Traditionally, production is good in alternate years, he said.

Experts said, fruiting is at least 30 percent less in 'off year' than in on-year. Besides, there is fear of natural calamities like storm and hail which may cause unpredictable damage. Production may decline due to temperature fluctuation, excessive rainfall and pest attack.

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They said there are buds in around 75 percent of mango trees in the region this year. Budding continues till mid-March.

Mango, king of fruits, is a cash crop in northwestern region, especially in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, where the economy largely depends on the its production.

A large number of people are engaged in different jobs, from nursing to harvesting and packing during mango season every year.

The region has a long tradition of producing good varieties of mango including Fazli, Gopalbhog, Khirshapat, Khirshabhog, Chosha, Langra, Lakhna, Maldahi, Bombai, Mohananda, Mohanbhog and Ashwina, Regional Agriculture Information officer Sharif Uddin said.

Most of these varieties grow well in alternate years. There is no off-year or on-year for four other locally varieties -- Amropaly and Mollika, BARRI-1 and BARRI-2.