Mango buds swaying in the gardens of Satkhira

Mango buds are swaying in the spring air and nature is scenting with the sweet smell of these buds. Bees are busy collecting honey in groups. The humming of bees is making the mind more lively. Mango orchards in the coastal region of Satkhira are full of buds. Mango buds are adorning the gardens. Farmers are hoping to get good yield of mango if there is no natural calamity. That is why he has started attending the morning and afternoon services with hope.

There are mango orchards in seven upazilas of Satkhira district including Sadar, Tala, Patkelghata, Kalaroa, Asashuni, Debhata, Kaliganj and Shyamnagar. The number of mango orchards in the district is increasing every year as mango cultivation is profitable. Small and big new mango orchards are being created. Different varieties of mangoes including Gopalbhog, Govindbhog, Himsagar, Langra and Amrapali are being cultivated there. Due to its geographical location, Satkhira mangoes ripen 20-25 days earlier from all other districts of the country. Mangoes of this district are valued in different parts of the country including Dhaka. Since 2016, Satkhira mangoes are being sent to different countries including Italy, England and Germany for the first time.

The district agriculture extension department says the mangoes are full of buds. If there is no natural calamity and if care is taken in time, mango will have good yield in the current season. Farmers will benefit economically by cultivating mango.

Nurul Amin of Satkhira Sadar Upazila Old Satkhira area said, `This year's weather is favorable for mangoes. A few days ago there was a continuous rain which caused loss to other crops but it is a blessing for mango. But if it continues like this for the next few days without heavy fog, then I hope to get good yield of mango’.

Abdul Jalil of Baganbari village said, ‘Mango yields good because of caring for the tree. That's why 15 to 20 days before the buds appeared on the tree, I sprayed it well with pesticides and washed the tree. This will protect the hopper from insect attack. And we are happy that the mango buds are very good’.

Manik, a fruit trader in Suntanpur Bara Bazar, said, `I trade in mangoes every year by buying orchards as soon as the buds come. This year I have purchased 13 small and big gardens for 5 lakh taka. I hope I will benefit if there is no fog and big storm rain in the future’.

Satkhira Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension. Nurul Islam said, `if there is no natural calamity then the farmers will benefit if the number of buds on the tree is more this year. The agriculture department is working for the production of non-toxic mango. Last year, due to the Corona epidemic, a small amount of Govindbhog mangoes were sent abroad. Besides, Satkhira mangoes were sold at good prices in big super shops including Agora in Dhaka. We have prepared gardens for export abroad. About 500 farmers of the district are being trained for non-toxic mango production. According to the agriculture department, mango has been planted in 4,115 hectares of land in the district this year’.