BAGHA, RAJSHAHI, Feb 23: The orchards of Bagha Upazila in Rajshahi are now filled with the sweet fragrance of mango buds, captivating anyone who passes through.
Some trees are sprouting small clusters of buds, while others are already in full bloom. Orchard owners and traders are busy tending to their groves, hopeful of a good harvest this year if the weather remains favourable.
According to the local agriculture department, Bagha's mangoes have been exported abroad for several years, earning recognition beyond national borders.
Rows of orchards line the roads of Rajshahi, a region synonymous with mangoes. While the district is famous for the fruit, Bagha, Charghat, and Puthia upazilas are considered the heartland of mango cultivation. Farmers said last year's yield was poor, but this season buds are appearing abundantly across orchards. They believe the current weather conditions will lead to better flowering compared to previous years.
Bagha is also home to the historic Bagha Shahi Mosque, built in 1523 by Nusrat Shah, son of Sultan Hussain Shah. Terracotta inscriptions on the mosque walls depict mango motifs, proving the fruit's cultural and historical significance in the region for centuries.
Residents describe the present scene as enchanting, with mango buds blooming across trees and their fragrance spreading through the air. The aroma signals the arrival of the mango season, locally celebrated as 'Madhumas'.
Agriculture officials note that Bagha alone has nearly as many orchards as the rest of Rajshahi's eight other upazilas combined. Mango is the area's most important cash crop. In Dhaka markets, Bagha mangoes fetch higher prices than those from other districts. Over the past seven to eight years, exports have expanded to international destinations. Each season, at least 25 mango markets operate in Bagha, including major ones at Bagha Sadar, Monigram, Binodpur, Bausa, Arani, Pakuria, and Baneshwar in Puthia. Mangoes from neighbouring Charghat also reach these markets.
Locals believe that if favourable weather and political stability continue until harvest, sales could exceed Tk 1,000 crore this year. Popular varieties include Fazli, Khirsapat, Gopalbhog, Langra, Arajom, Amrapali, and Ashwina. Other lesser-known but prized varieties include Bou-Bhulani, Ranipachand, Jamaikhusi, Brindaban, Lokhna, Bombay Khirsa, Mohonbhog, Senri, Banana, Khudi Khirsa, Brindabani, and Kalibhog. Altogether, Bagha is home to nearly 150 mango varieties. The industry provides seasonal employment to around 100,000 people annually.
Farmers said buds usually appear in late January, prompting orchard owners and traders to begin intensive care. By late February, buds mature into tiny fruits. A local proverb captures the uncertainty of the crop: "Mango buds are like fish fry-only those that survive can be eaten." Farmers estimate that if even a quarter of the buds survive, the harvest will be bumper.
Mahasin Ali, a successful grower from Amodpur Village, said five to six rounds of pesticide spraying are required from budding to harvest, costing Tk 38,000-45,000 per hectare.
Bagha Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiullah Sultan said, scientific methods can boost production and profits. Proper preservation, transport, and marketing are key to expanding exports.
He noted that Bagha's mangoes have been exported abroad for nearly a decade, thanks to improved cultivation practices. Currently, mango orchards cover 8,500 hectares in the upazila.
