C'nawabganj reaps reward of mangoes

In the red, hard and dry soils around Chapainawabganj, characteristic of the Barind region in general, even an adept farmer finds it challenging to grow crops such as rice. But in such conditions, mango orchards thrive. Encouraged by fair prices and an efficient marketing system, more and more farmers are turning to mangoes to secure a better livelihood. At least 500 hectares of mango plantations are being added to the district's landscape annually, with orchards even appearing in char (landmass emerging from riverbed) areas.

“Until recently we used to sow paddy,” says farmer Mohammad Rokib from Laxmanpur village in Nachole upazila. “Through paddy we could barely achieve solvency due to its production costs and selling prices. But with mangoes, solvency is easy.”

Ripon Ali from Gokul village in Sadar upazila has planted a mango orchard on three bighas of his land which were previously dedicated to other crops. “I used to earn about Tk 60,000 per year from the land,” he says. “But from the mango orchard I can easily earn Tk 1.5 lakhs. Besides, we can still grow other crops under the shade of the mango trees.”

Farmer Hashem Ali from Sadar upazila's Sajjan village has likewise benefited. “We hardly achieved fair prices for paddy and other crops,” he says, “but with mangoes good prices are usual.” He planted his mango orchard covering four bighas five years ago.

An improved marketing system for mangoes is also benefiting the area's farmers. “We used to have to go to Dhaka to sell mangoes,” says grower Hasan Al Sadi from Chhatrajitpur village in Shibganj upazila. “Nowadays wholesalers visit Chapainawabganj to buy direct, and they pay cash.”

The district's mango production has steadily increased over the past decade. In 2007 there were approximately 16.5 lakh mango trees in the district producing 1.6 lakh tonnes of mangoes. This year there are over 20 lakh trees. Last year's harvest was 2.4 lakh tonnes from 18 lakh 74 thousand 900 trees.

“Mango growers are getting higher prices than farmers of paddy, jute and other crops,” says Monjurul Huda, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chapainawabganj. “Understandably, there is great interest in commercial mango cultivation.”

“Mango tree coverage is also anticipated to decrease local temperatures and encourage more rainfall, a useful counterbalance to the negative impacts of deforestation,” he adds.

“Mangoes are now the most important cash crop in the region,” says senior scientific officer of the regional horticulture research station Dr Sorof Uddin. “The livelihoods of many people depend heavily on mangoes.”

Indeed the mango orchards provide employment for many, involved in tending the trees as well as harvesting and packing work. According to Dr Sorof Uddin the region has a long history of mango production and grows at least 350 varieties of the fruit.