In Khulna, mango orchards are full of buds, farmers are waiting for a bumper harvest.

Md. Shamim Hossain –

Khulna Mango trees are covered in buds in all areas of Khulna. Only golden buds are adorning every mango garden. If the weather is favorable, the orchard owners are expecting a bumper crop of mangoes this year. At the beginning of the season, the mango trees are full of buds as the weather is favorable. However, small and medium-sized trees have more buds than large-sized trees. Farmers are dreaming around buds. Himsagar and Langra mangoes are among the famous products produced in the district. Because of its taste and smell, the mangoes of this district are being exported beyond the borders of the country. Because of this many mango orchards have been developed commercially. The orchard owners are happy that the mango trees have good buds. According to the information of the Department of Agriculture Extension, the mango garden owners are counting the days in the hope of abundant harvest this year. Compared to last year, this year the mango buds are more, so the yield is expected to be higher. Mango production was also reduced last year due to natural calamities and hopper insect infestation. This time, due to garden maintenance, early application of insecticides to suppress hoppers, and provision of fertilizers and water to the trees, there has been a massive budding. The agriculture department expects to produce 37 thousand metric tons of mangoes this year. This year Suman Ali of Sadar Upazila planted a mango garden on seven and a half bigha land. He said that there are 8-10 mango trees in one bigha of land. 35-40 thousand rupees are spent per bigha of land till the mangoes are marketed with garden maintenance, application of pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation. If the yield is as expected, mangoes can be sold for up to 1.5 lakh taka per bigha garden. Amchashi Sirajul Islam of Azgadi village of Sadar Upazila said, I have a sugarcane garden on 15 bigha of land. This time 100% buds have arrived. He hopes to profit if there is no natural disaster and if the mango market is good. Sakhawat Hossain, the garden owner of the same village, said that this year, due to the favorable weather, the trees have sprouted early. The field officials of the agriculture department are giving various suggestions to get good yield of mangoes in the orchards. Insecticides are being sprayed in orchards to prevent hoppers from attacking trees. The deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension said that many mango buds have come this year. The weather is very good. Garden care with timely application of pesticides is advised by the Agriculture Department. Unless there is a major natural disaster, the target of mango production in the district will be exceeded this time.