Bumper Haribhanga mango harvest likely in Rangpur

The fibreless, fleshy and delicious variety of mango, Haribhanga, which has become popular at home and abroad, is likely to see bumper production this year, expects both farmers and experts.

Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said they are hopeful about the production if the climatic condition continues to remain favourable during the plucking in the next two months.

Frequent rainfalls till last April have helped for the better growth of the tender fruits which would result in better production, he hoped.

According to the DAE sources, commercial cultivation of Haribhanga mango has already become popular among farmers and rural people by making them self-reliant in the district.

This season, over 6,200 farmers and locals have cultivated the mangoes on over 5,700 hectares of land comprising 4,200 small, medium and big orchards and homesteads in the district after earning Tk 147 crore for 21,000 tonnes of mango last year.

Farmers are expected to produce around 22,000 tonnes of Haribhanga mango as its cultivation has been expanded across Rangpur division.

The mango is mostly being cultivated in Podaganj, Khoragach Purbopara, Khoragach Paschimpara, Ruposhi, Zarullapur, Rangatipara, Bangaon, Chaker Pather, Paikarerhat, Rukniganj, Siraj, Tekani, Moyenpur, Kadamtola, Lalpukur, Shukurerhat, Sikarpur, Fulchowki, Tilakpara, Kashimpur, Ucha Balua, Matherhat and other villages in Mithapukur upazila.

Haribhanga is also being cultivated in Kutubpur, Arunnesa, Nataram,Rustamabad, Nagerhat, Chowpothirhat, Kanchabari, Gopalpur, Baroghoria, Airamri, and Mandalpara under Badarganj upazila, Kantabari, Palichora, and Ramjiban under Sadar upazila and many other villages under Pirganj upazila.

According to market sources, the farmers will begin plucking the mangoes from the second week of June and it will continue till the end of July when the price per kilogramme would rise up to Tk 300 in place of Tk 60 to 65 per kilogramme early in the season.

DAE Deputy Director Zulfiquer Haider and Sadar upazila Agriculture Officer Afzal Hossain said the farmers are being provided with the latest technologies to boost the cultivation of the prospective Haribhanga mango.