Growers happy with good prices of haribhanga mango

Cultivation of Haribhanga mango has brought windfall profit to the growers as it is being sold at expected prices in the local markets in Lalmonirhat. The growers are happy with bumper production and expected prices this year, and many of them are planning to grow this variety on more land next season, growers said.

Haribhanga mango is selling at Tk 50 to Tk 55 per kg, while other varieties are selling at Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg in the local market. Haribhanga mango costs more because of its better taste.

Nurul Haque Sarker, a farmer at Haribhanga village in Lalmonirhat sadar, said he is happy as he is getting expected production and prices. “Eight years ago I planted 252 trees of Haribhanga mango on my 2 acres and 13 decimals of land, and I have been getting mangoes for the last four years,” he said, adding that he uses vermicompost in the mango orchard. “I got 30 kg mango from each tree this year, and the production will increase next year,” he said, adding that many growers are now growing Haribhanga mango after taking technical advice from him.

Abdur Rahim, a farmer at Bamonerbasa village of Aditmari upazila, said he has been growing Haribhanga mango on eight bighas of land for the last three years, and he is getting expected prices. “There is high demand for Haribhanga mango, so I don't face any problem selling my produce,” he said. He uses compost fertiliser and waters the mango trees during flowering stage, he added.

“I cultivate spices, ginger and turmeric in my mango orchard and get expected output. Cultivation of Haribhanga mango gives me more profit than from other crops,” said mango grower Hari Ram Barmon of Baninagar village under Kaliganj upazila.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat said there are 90 Haribhanga mango orchards in five upazilas of the district. About 900 to 1,200 tonnes of Haribhanga mango are produced in these orchards every year.

Rafique Miah, a fruit trader at Uttar Saptana village in Lalmonirhat sadar, said they purchase one kg of Haribhanga variety mango at the rate Tk 44 to Tk 46 from the grower, and make a profit Tk 4 to Tk 6 per kg in the local market. “We can sell Haribhanga mango quickly,” he said.

Dulal Chandra Roy, a local residence at Thana para in Lalmonirhat town, said he purchased one maund of Haribhanga mango and sent them to his relartives in the capital Dhaka in the last week. He always purchases this variety of mango for his family members, he said.