Staff Correspondent :
In Chapainawabganj of Rajshahi district, mango farmers have doubled the cultivation of export-quality mangoes this season compared to last year. However, mango exports have not increased accordingly, causing farmers to face losses due to the additional costs of producing export-grade mangoes.
For the current 2024-25 season, a target was set to export 5,000 tons of mangoes to 38 countries worldwide, including China. According to data from the Chapainawabganj Department of Agricultural Extension, by Tuesday-near the end of the season-only 2,200 tons of mangoes have been exported to 14 countries.
Based on government-set targets, farmers in the Rajshahi region have produced 6,720 tons of export-quality mangoes this season. Mango growers have expressed concerns that the lack of a sustainable government plan has led to this unfavorable situation.
Farmers report that at the beginning of the season, ambassadors and exporters from several countries visited mango orchards in Chapainawabganj. During their visit, they showed great interest in importing large quantities of mangoes from the region.
Mango farmers and entrepreneurs say that the absence of a sustainable export plan, the lack of packaging houses in mango-producing areas, and phytosanitary complications have contributed to the poor export performance this year. However, officials mention that the government is actively implementing various initiatives to increase mango exports abroad and simplify the export process.
While the export target for the current season was set at 5,000 tons for 38 countries including China, production of export-quality mangoes in the Rajshahi region has reached 6,720 tons. In 2023, mango exports stood at 3,500 metric tons, but as the season nears its end this year, only 2,200 metric tons have been exported so far.
