News Flash
RAJSHAHI, April 21, 2026 (BSS) - The Barind region is reeling under the intense heat of Baishakh, with rising temperatures dimming the prospects of mango and litchi growers.
Mangoes are falling prematurely from the trees, while inadequate rainfall is hindering their growth. At the same time, excessive heat is causing litchis to crack on the trees, leaving farmers increasingly worried about their harvest.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi region, which covers Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts, reported that mango orchards span 92,552 hectares with 34,960,554 trees. The production target for this year has been set at 1,198,068 metric tons.
Litchi cultivation covers 1,701 hectares across the four districts, with a total of 213,280 trees.
According to the Rajshahi Meteorological Office, the maximum temperature reached 39.2 degrees Celsius on April 15, before dropping to 34.2 degrees the following day.
The mercury rose again to 36.8 degrees on April 17 and hovered between 34.5 and 38 degrees through April 20. Despite occasional drizzles, no measurable rainfall was recorded during this period.
Farmers said the season had started with abundant mango blossoms following winter, raising hopes for a good harvest. However, persistent heat and lack of soil moisture are now disrupting fruit development.
"Small mangoes are dropping from the trees due to excessive heat, and growth has also been affected by the lack of rain," several orchard owners said.
Litchi growers reported similar challenges, saying high temperatures combined with fluctuating humidity levels are causing the fruit to crack and rot before maturity, reducing marketable yield.
Data from the Rajshahi DAE office shows that litchi cultivation in the district has slightly declined to 526 hectares this year from 528 hectares last year. However, the production target has been increased marginally to 3,775 metric tons from last year's 3,768 tons.
Agricultural experts attributed the problem to sudden changes in temperature and humidity, which cause the skin of litchis to expand and contract rapidly, leading to cracking.
Abdul Malek, a litchi farmer in Paba upazila, said fluctuating weather conditions have worsened the situation. "It was extremely hot a few days ago, and now humidity has increased. As a result, litchis are cracking on the trees," he said.
Another farmer, Shafiqul Islam from Godagari, said the combination of heat and humidity is proving harmful. "There is no rain, yet humidity is high. Litchis cannot withstand this sudden heat, and if the instability continues, production will suffer significantly," he said.
Nazrul Islam, who owns a 10-bigha mango orchard in Charghat upazila, said he had expected a good yield this year due to abundant flowering. "But since early this month, intense heat has caused most small mangoes to drop. Production will be much lower," he said.
Large-scale grower and exporter Shafiqul Islam Sana of Bagha upazila, who cultivates mangoes on around 300 bighas of land, also expressed concern. "Compared to last year's bumper production, yields will be lower this season. The heat wave is causing small mangoes to fall, which could result in a major loss," he said.
Mohammad Nasir Uddin, deputy director of the Rajshahi DAE, advised farmers to ensure regular light irrigation and maintain adequate soil moisture to reduce damage.
"Proper care of trees is essential at this stage. If farmers follow these measures, the impact can be minimized," he said, adding that overall conditions of mangoes and litchis in the region remain relatively stable so far.
