Chapainawabganj, the mango hub of Bangladesh, received rainfall on Sunday night after a prolonged dry spell, offering relief to local mango growers. The district experienced several rounds of rain starting around midnight, alleviating drought-related concerns.
Farmers noted that mango is the primary cash crop in Chapainawabganj. Initially, favorable weather conditions had raised expectations for a successful season. Mango trees had flowered abundantly, but as the fruit began to develop, the absence of rain led to dried stems and premature fruit drop.
In response, farmers resorted to manual irrigation and water spraying to preserve their crops. Sunday's rainfall provided some respite. Abdur Rakib, a mango farmer from Baliadanga in Sadar Upazila, stated, "But later, the weather turned adverse. Due to drought and lack of rain, pests attacked the trees, and the stems dried up, causing many mangoes to drop prematurely. This rain will help reduce pest infestation and strengthen the stems. Hopefully, the fruit drop will now stop."
Kamrul Islam, another grower from Jamtala, mentioned that he had been irrigating his orchard to prevent mango drop. "We didn't get much rain in our area, little rain feels like a blessing. It will help strengthen the stems and speed up fruit growth," he added.
Dr. Yasir Ali, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Chapainawabganj, reported an average of 2 millimeters of rainfall on Sunday night. "It would have been better if the rainfall was heavier, but even this amount will benefit mango and litchi cultivation," he said.
The agriculture department indicates that mango cultivation spans 37,504 hectares in Chapainawabganj this season.
Source: UNB