Mir khairul alam, Satkhira
Satkhira is now filled with the sweet scent of mango buds. Mango buds are swaying on the trees. The fragrant scent of those buds is spreading everywhere. In the city or village, mango trees everywhere are adorned with their buds, golden in color, in a wonderful decoration. However, from the beginning of last year, mango farmers had expressed their fear of a decrease in production due to the hostile weather.
According to the information of the Agriculture Department, there are five thousand mango orchards in Satkhira district. Mangoes are cultivated on 4,180 hectares of land. The District Agricultural Extension Department has set a target of 50 to 60 thousand metric tons of mango production this time.This time the Agriculture Department has set a target of 40 thousand metric tons of mango production on 4 thousand 118 hectares of land in the district. The market price of 50 to 60 thousand metric tons of mangoes at an average of 60 taka per kg has been set at about 360 crore taka. Field-level mango farmers in different areas of the district said that their mango orchards are blooming. The orchards are full of buds. Almost 95 percent of the mango trees in the district are blooming. Among them are different varieties of mangoes including Langra, Gopalbhog, Himsagar, Lata, Ashwina, Gobindabhog, Kalibhog, Amrapali. Mango farmers said that they are taking various suggestions from the Agriculture Department and said that due to weather and climate, buds appear early in Satkhira gardens. Buds appear in Satkhira gardens at least 15-20 days before the gardens in Rajshahi region. As a result, mangoes in Satkhira also ripen 25-20 days earlier than those in Rajshahi region. Due to this, there is a different demand for Satkhira mangoes in the market. Several mango farmers including Ayub Hossain, Anwarul Islam, Pathik Hossain, Faruk Hossain and Rabiul Islam said that mango trees need to be taken care of before buds appear. Regular spraying and irrigation have already started to preserve buds. This time, mango buds have started appearing a little earlier. Traders from outside Satkhira are coming in the hope of buds on the trees and are visiting the gardens to get information. Many are also buying mango orchards in advance. In this regard, the Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Satkhira Agricultural Extension Department (Khamarbari) said that this time mango is being cultivated in 4,118 hectares of land in Satkhira district. The Agriculture Department has set a target of producing 50,000 to 60,000 metric tons of mangoes. Mango buds have already come, but at this time, hoopoe insects usually attack. Due to which mango buds are destroyed. In addition, due to lack of irrigation in the beeching method, the buds dry up and fall in storms. The Agriculture Office is providing all kinds of advice and support to mango farmers to protect them from this and get good yields, the official said.