Mango Export: Growers innovate farming practices

The rising quantity of mango exports has been changing the farming practices of the fruit in Rajshahi region as farmers are now opting for more chemical-free mango production, agriculturists say.

Farmers are now gradually adopting organic farming method as they intend to meet the high standards, required by the international markets.

This year, a total of 92,913 hectares of land has been brought under mango cultivation in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore, said Md Shamsul Wadud, regional additional director at Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

But, safe or chemical-free mangoes were grown on only 630 hectares of land this year, which was around 500 hectares last year, said the DAE official.

They have a plan to extend the area to 728 hectares next year, he said.

"As the areas are gradually increasing, incidents of pest attacks are also increasing, he said, adding that but farmers are eager to get better prices of their produces from the buyers.

Instead of any harmful chemicals, farmers are using pheromone traps and adopting fruit-bagging method to protect the fruit from hopper pests, untimely rains and hail storms, said Anwarul Haque, president of Rajshahi Agro Food Producers' Association.

"We use pesticides on three to four occasions before applying the bagging method," Haque said.

Farmers stop use of chemicals 45 days before the fruits arrive at the market for sale, he said.

"Growers are now opting for quality mango production, targeting the international markets," Sohel Rana, one of the mango growers from Naogaon, said.

Another mango producer Shafiqul Islam of Rajshahi's Bagha upazila said apart from the pheromone traps and fruit-bagging, a few farmers also use bio-pesticides, which is quite costlier.

Such methods attract the buyers, he said, adding that exporters contact the farmers before the season starts, while local DAE officials examine the farming processes.

According to the DAE, this year around 2,700 tonnes of mangoes were exported to some 34 countries across the world, compared to 1,757 tonnes last year.