By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, June 18, 2025 (BSS) - Prospect of mango export from the Rajshahi region appears very bright as both acreage and annual yield of the delicious summer fruit have been increasing steadily across the region, including the vast Barind tract, over the last couple of years.

According to the latest official statistics, both the number of mango orchards and their yield have doubled in just a decade, indicating a significant transformation in the region's agricultural landscape.

Triple-cropping paddy fields are gradually being converted into mango orchards for commercial cultivation, as the seasonal fruit is currently seen as more profitable than grain crops.

Farmers are receiving training on production, harvesting and post-harvest management techniques to ensure the cultivation of high-quality mangoes suitable for export.

Talking to BSS, Dr Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said the rural economy has been bolstered by diversified mango-centric economic activities throughout the region.

"There is a target of producing around 12.55 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes with an estimated trade value of about Tk 7,000 crore in the four districts during the current season," he said.

Among the districts, Chapainawabganj is expected to produce the highest amount-4.58 lakh tonnes-followed by Naogaon with 3.78 lakh tonnes, Rajshahi with 2.86 lakh tonnes, and Natore with 1.34 lakh tonnes.

Dr Rahman expressed optimism that the yield might reach up to 28 lakh metric tonnes this year in the absence of major natural calamities or inclement weather.

Anwarul Haque, President of the Rajshahi Agro Food Producer Society, said mangoes from Rajshahi have already reached European and other international markets in recent years, opening up new avenues for foreign currency earnings.

He noted that the adoption of the fruit-bagging method has significantly increased, resulting in poison-free mango production by eliminating the need for pesticides and reducing fruit-fly infestation.

"Training on best agricultural practices has enabled many farmers and value-chain actors to access high-value export markets," Haque added. "Although exports are nearly twice as profitable as local sales, they require more investment, greater care, and advanced technology."

Prof Farid Uddin Khan of the Department of Economics at Rajshahi University remarked that mango has become the third-most important agricultural commodity in the region after rice and potatoes.

However, he emphasized the urgent need for broader export access. "Although the region produces a large quantity of mangoes annually, only a small portion is exported. We must explore more foreign markets," he said.

Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer at the Regional Fruit Research Station, said mangoes have been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of land in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj this year. In Naogaon, the area stands at 12,671 hectares, while Natore has brought 4,823 hectares under mango cultivation.

He further stated that Naogaon has joined Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj as a major mango export hub, with locally grown varieties now being shipped abroad after meeting domestic demand.

Mango growers and exporters in Naogaon are expecting larger shipments this year compared to the previous season.

Sohel Rana, owner of Rupgram Agro Farm in Sapahar upazila, has cultivated mangoes on about 150 bighas of land, including popular varieties like Amrupali and Langra. He applied the bagging method to mangoes grown on around 50 bighas to ensure higher quality suitable for export.

"This special multi-layered bag with a wax-coated surface protects mangoes from pests, rain and hailstorms, and can withstand wind speeds of up to 65 km/h," said Rana.

He said he shipped five tonnes of mangoes last year through various exporters, including North Bengal Agro, and exported eight tonnes to England, the Netherlands and Sweden in 2023.

"The bagging method is essential for producing export-quality mangoes but is expensive-costing around Tk 30,000 per bigha, nearly double the cost of normal production," he said, urging government support to reduce the cost.

Rana also pointed out that most farmers in Naogaon rely on exporters for shipment, as they lack the financial means, technical knowledge and facilities to export directly. As a result, the 25 percent government incentive on mango exports benefits exporters rather than farmers.

Contract grower Shafiqul Islam said there is huge demand for Rajshahi mangoes in European and Middle Eastern markets. "We cannot fully meet this demand due to the lack of modern processing and packaging facilities," he noted.

Islam works with 20 contract farmers in Bagha Upazila to produce mangoes for export, mainly targeting European countries. "Exporting mangoes is almost twice as profitable as local sales," he added.