Green mangoes dropping due to continuous drought
Monday, 20 April 2009
RAJSHAHI, Apr 19 (BSS): Mango production in the region is likely to fall around 25 to 30 per cent this season due to the continuous drought like climatic condition frustrating the farmers and the traders.
Horticulture scientists and the farmers said that the green mangoes are falling abnormally for the last couple of days due prolonged absence of rainfall along with high temperature.
"If the adverse climatic condition prolongs for another one week the mango output will be affected badly," said Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Horticulture Station in Chapainawabgonj.
He said the production of mango in the region especially in Chapainawabgonj and Rajshahi would not be satisfactory due to adverse effect of nature and suggested irrigation to the mango- bearing trees.
Irrigation has become essential to all the mango-bearing tress after every ten days to overcome the problems. But, he said, most of the mango growers have no capacity to irrigate their trees due to absence of water resources.
Meanwhile, he said a bumper production was expected this year in the region as around 90 to 95 per cent mango trees were found sprouted by the end of February and the season was adjudged as the "on year" for the delicious fruit.
A large number of mango orchards along with small gardens were created in the northern region with some effective and need- based steps taken by various government and non-government organisations.
Trees in almost all the mango orchards were bearing a lot of flowers that was hardly been seen previously and the mango experts had estimated the production target at about 0.16 million (1.6 lakh) tonnes.
But unfavourable weather particularly the continuous drought has been playing havoc with the green mangoes during their peak maturation time.
He viewed that the day temperature has been seen rising gradually and the temperature from 39 to 41 degrees Celsius is harmful for the cultivation.
Dr Atiqur Rahman, Senior Scientific Officer of local Fruit Research Station, said shortage of timely rainfall affected the budding of mango and at present the drought aggravated the situation as a huge number of green mangoes are dropping.
According to the fruit bearing nature of the mango trees, this year is the 'on year' and the last year was the 'off year' of mangoes.
Meanwhile, mango traders, consumers and growers in the region are very disappointed over the estimated production.
Some of the traders, who are involved in the mango trading for long, said they invested huge amount of money in the current season, but their hopes and aspirations have been dashed by the adverse climatic condition.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rajshahi Braja Hari Das said due to untimely rain in the first week of March, there was vegetative growth of the trees resulting in emergence of new leaves and hampering the reproductive growth.
Horticulture scientists and the farmers said that the green mangoes are falling abnormally for the last couple of days due prolonged absence of rainfall along with high temperature.
"If the adverse climatic condition prolongs for another one week the mango output will be affected badly," said Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Horticulture Station in Chapainawabgonj.
He said the production of mango in the region especially in Chapainawabgonj and Rajshahi would not be satisfactory due to adverse effect of nature and suggested irrigation to the mango- bearing trees.
Irrigation has become essential to all the mango-bearing tress after every ten days to overcome the problems. But, he said, most of the mango growers have no capacity to irrigate their trees due to absence of water resources.
Meanwhile, he said a bumper production was expected this year in the region as around 90 to 95 per cent mango trees were found sprouted by the end of February and the season was adjudged as the "on year" for the delicious fruit.
A large number of mango orchards along with small gardens were created in the northern region with some effective and need- based steps taken by various government and non-government organisations.
Trees in almost all the mango orchards were bearing a lot of flowers that was hardly been seen previously and the mango experts had estimated the production target at about 0.16 million (1.6 lakh) tonnes.
But unfavourable weather particularly the continuous drought has been playing havoc with the green mangoes during their peak maturation time.
He viewed that the day temperature has been seen rising gradually and the temperature from 39 to 41 degrees Celsius is harmful for the cultivation.
Dr Atiqur Rahman, Senior Scientific Officer of local Fruit Research Station, said shortage of timely rainfall affected the budding of mango and at present the drought aggravated the situation as a huge number of green mangoes are dropping.
According to the fruit bearing nature of the mango trees, this year is the 'on year' and the last year was the 'off year' of mangoes.
Meanwhile, mango traders, consumers and growers in the region are very disappointed over the estimated production.
Some of the traders, who are involved in the mango trading for long, said they invested huge amount of money in the current season, but their hopes and aspirations have been dashed by the adverse climatic condition.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rajshahi Braja Hari Das said due to untimely rain in the first week of March, there was vegetative growth of the trees resulting in emergence of new leaves and hampering the reproductive growth.