Sohel Kanti Nath, Bandarban

The green hills of Bandarban are now full of buds and golden buds. Various species of domestic and foreign mangoes, including Amrapali, Rupali, Rangowai, are cultivated in this district.

Farmers are busy taking care of the orchards to improve the quality and yield of mangoes. The soil and climate of the hills are suitable for mango cultivation, so the yield is also good. If the weather is favorable, farmers hope that there will be a good mango harvest this year too.

On the spot, it is seen that the green hills are covered with mango buds and golden buds. This is the scene of every mango orchard planted in rows. With adequate care, insect control sprays, and weed control, every tree is turning into fruit from golden buds. All the green hills of the district, including Ruma Roachhari Thanchi Sadar, are now covered with whole and golden mango buds. Various varieties of mangoes, including Amrapali, Rangowai, Rupali, and other domestic and foreign varieties, are cultivated in this hilly district. However, due to the suitable soil and weather conditions of the hills, Arrapali mangoes are widely cultivated in this district. Arrapali mangoes here are in demand all over the country because they are sweet, large in size, and are also good in price. Farmers make a profit by selling them because the cost is low. Since the buds have appeared, wholesalers from different districts have flocked to buy the gardens from the farmers. Seeing the buds, farmers hope that there will be a good mango harvest this year too.

Menrat Mro, a resident of Basant Para area of Chimbuk Hills in Bandarban Sadar, said - This year, I have planted Amrapali and Burmese mango gardens on 5 acres. The buds have also come in large numbers, some trees have already turned into buds. If the weather is good, then the mango harvest will be good this year and the price will also be good.

Bhanrun Par Bam, a mango farmer from Faruk Para area, said - We are spraying the garden so that the flowers turn into fruits and so that the mangoes do not get insects. If there is timely rain, the yield will be better than last year and will be profitable, the farmer said.

Meanwhile, all kinds of instructions are being given to the farmers to prevent the mangoes from getting insects and to get good yields. Nuching Marma, Deputy Assistant Agricultural Officer of the Bandarban Sadar Agricultural Office told The Country Today, we are giving round-the-clock advice to the farmers at the field level. So that the farmers can grow mango orchards commercially. The farmers are taking care of the mango orchards according to our advice and are interested in mango cultivation.

On the other hand, if the weather is favourable, the mango production will exceed the target compared to last year, said MM Shahnewaz, Deputy Director of the Bandarban Agricultural Extension Department. He also said - This year our land has also increased compared to last year. The Agricultural Office is providing various types of training to the farmers. So that farmers are interested in mango cultivation and can benefit commercially.

According to the information of the Agriculture Office, mangoes have been cultivated in 10,400 hectares of land in the district this year and the target production has been set at 1,24,800 metric tons.