A faction of businessmen is actively plotting to drive up mango prices, purportedly through the establishment of a syndicate, citing reduced mango production in the region. Concerns arise as mango orchard owners and farmers anticipate nearly doubling mango prices compared to the previous year.
Contrary to these claims, the Agriculture Department maintains that mango production is unlikely to decline this year, despite a delayed sprouting of mango flowers. Agriculture officials and horticulture researchers attribute some fallen mangoes, particularly young or guti mangoes, to extreme heatwaves, though they ensure that surviving green mangoes are being adequately tended to, ensuring a satisfactory harvest. Mango farmers express concerns over fewer flowers on mango trees and the adverse climatic conditions leading to the fall of guti mangoes. To secure profitability, farmers find themselves compelled to sell their produce at inflated prices.
According to sources within the Department of Agriculture Extension, mango cultivation spans across 93,266 hectares of land in Rajshahi, Chapainwabganj, Naogoan, and Natore districts this year, aiming for a total production of nearly 12 lakh metric tonnes. Last year, mangoes were cultivated over 19,578 hectares, yielding 260,006 metric tonnes in Rajshahi district alone. This year's projection estimates 260,300 metric tonnes on 19,602 hectares of land in the district.
Anowarul Haque, President of Rajshahi-Chapai Food Agro Producers, confirms the initiation of mango harvesting according to the administration's scheduled dates, with more days needed to harvest quality mangoes.
Fruit seller Kamrul Islam from the Shaheb Bazar area anticipates a gradual increase in demand as quality mangoes ripen.
In Baneswar Hat, Rajshahi's largest market, only a few mango traders are observed selling 'Guti' mangoes at Tk 50 per kilogramme, marking a substantial increase from Tk 20 to 30 per kg last year. Orchard owners and traders voice their concerns over dishonest practices among some mango traders, urging stern action from the administration.
Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed reassures that Rajshahi's mangoes hold national renown, pledging administrative diligence to curb any attempts by dishonest traders to exploit consumers with exorbitant mango prices. He assures the deployment of several teams to address this issue effectively.
