Rajshahi Correspondent:

The Fazly mango trade in Rajshahi is experiencing a surge in activity, driven by both bustling markets and increased online sales following the recent harvesting season.

Popular varieties like Fazly and Amrapali have begun flooding the markets, with prices showing an upward trend. The Rajshahi region-comprising Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, and Natore-is one of the country’s major mango-producing zones, and this year’s yield is expected to be substantial.

Matiur Rahman, a mango grower from Belpukur village under Puthiya Upazila, said the price of Fazly mango has doubled over the last week due to growing demand.

one maund of Fazly mango was sold at Taka 1,400 to 1,500 at Baneshwar Bazar, marking an increase of Taka 100 per maund compared to the previous day.

He mentioned that all the branded mango varieties were sold at record-low prices over the past month due to the Eid holidays and suspension of courier services, which had frustrated both growers and traders. “Fazly has now emerged as a variety helping to recoup some of those losses,” he added.

In the same period last year, Fazly mangoes were sold at Taka 2,400 to 2,600 per maund depending on size and quality.

Retailer Shafiqul Islam of Shaheb Bazar Mango Market said Fazly is now the dominant variety in the market following the end of other popular varieties like Gopalbhog and Khirsapat. Amrapali is another variety currently available.

Mango is considered a vital seasonal cash crop in the northwestern region, particularly in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon. The industry involves a large number of people in various roles during the season.

“It creates seasonal employment and allows many to earn extra income,” said Dr Alim Uddin, former Chief Scientific Officer of the Regional Fruit Research Station.

“Mango brings financial benefits to all classes of people in Baneshwar,” said local trader Shariful Islam. “Even a daily labourer earns between Taka 500 and 1,000 during the season,” he added.

Umme Salma, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi, said a production target of 2.60 lakh metric tonnes has been set from 19,603 hectares of land in the district this year.

In Naogaon, mango has been cultivated on 30,300 hectares of land with a production target of 3.87 lakh metric tonnes, said Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of DAE, Naogaon. He estimated that mango trading this year may generate revenue worth Taka 4,000 crore in the district.

Naogaon has emerged as a significant mango-producing and exporting district, with high-quality varieties and a vast area dedicated to mango orchards.

Dr Yeasin Ali, Deputy Director of DAE, Chapainawabganj, informed that they are targeting the production of around 3.86 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes from 37,504 hectares of land this year, also valued at approximately Taka 4,000 crore.

Chapainawabganj, often referred to as the “mango capital” of Bangladesh, is known for its vast mango cultivation and substantial annual contribution to national mango production.

Dr Mukhlesur Rahman, Principal Scientific Officer at the Mango Research Center, said 1,033 tonnes of mangoes were exported last year to markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Additionally, mango exports to China have begun this year. In late April, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, along with a group of importers, visited several mango orchards in Chapainawabganj.

Dr Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of DAE, said mangoes were cultivated on 87,307 hectares of land across the region this year, with a projected production of around 10 lakh metric tonnes worth nearly Taka 10,000 crore.

He said this year’s yield may surpass all previous records, adding that the enhanced output has created new opportunities for stimulating the local economy and promoting crop diversification.

He also noted that mango farming has become more attractive to farmers in the Barind region, where irrigation challenges have impacted traditional paddy cultivation.

The growing export potential and improved market management is also encouraging farmers to expand mango cultivation, he added.

After fulfilling local demand, mangoes from the region are sent commercially to various parts of the country, including Dhaka.