RAJSHAHI, June 22 (BSS): Fruit-bagging method has been benefiting mango growers and traders in many ways, particularly protection from pest attack together with making sure the farmers get quality yield and its better price, in the region for the last couple of years.
Fruit bagging, a method of covering mangoes with bags during cultivation, is becoming increasingly popular in Rajshahi to improve mango quality and export potential.
This technique helps protect the mangoes from pests, diseases, and physical damage, resulting in higher-quality, export-worthy fruit. The use of fruit bagging is contributing to the economic growth of Rajshahi by boosting mango exports and farmer income.
Fruit bagging technology is being promoted in mango orchards in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj commercially during this pre-harvest season to protect mango from pest attack besides facilitating the farmers to get quality yield.
The method is being applied in growing all mango varieties like Khirshapat, Gopalbhog, Langra, Amrapali, Gauromati, Fazli and Himsagar.
Abul Hossain, a farmer of Premtali village under Godagari upazila, said the fruit bagging method keeps fruits fresh and spot-free. He spent Tk 1,24,800 to purchase the bag for 32,000 mangoes.
At present, only medium and large farms are using fruit bags as small farms remain unable to fund such an expense.
Mango is the leading seasonal cash crop of the country's northwest region and dominates the economy in the region.
Fruit bags are used during April and May, just ahead of the paddy harvest.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, there are about 30.2 lakh mango trees of different ages and varieties on some 34,500 hectares in the region with the creation of many more new mango orchards and increased mango farming in the homesteads in recent years.
If the bags are used substantially, the use of harmful chemical insecticides and pesticides can be reduced to a greater extent on the huge trees. Thus, the technology will open up a new door for exporting mangoes of the three districts famous for the delicious fruit to various foreign markets.
Monzurul Huda, former director of DAE, said the demand for fruit bags in mango farming has been increasing by about 15 million pieces per year.
Scientists of the Regional Horticulture Research Center (RHRC) in Chapainawabganj have released the technology among the growers around seven to eight years back after attaining remarkable success in on-farm research fields.
