The mango season in Rajshahi, the country’s key mango-producing region, began on an optimistic note this year. Growers and traders expected a bumper yield after seeing the abundant blossoms across orchards. Around 90 percent of mango orchards were in bloom at the outset of the season, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi. However, that hope has been dashed as the season progresses. Drought, pest attacks, and recent storms, rain, and hail have caused significant shedding of young mangoes. The adverse weather forecast due to Super El Niño has compounded the situation. This makes the production outlook increasingly concerning and leaves growers worried about potential losses.
Field-level growers say that although trees were initially full of blossoms, prolonged dry weather and water crisis led to a substantial fall in buds. A diesel shortage over the past month and a half also hindered irrigation and pesticide spraying, contributing further to fruit drop. Recent sudden storms and rainfall have caused a fall of a large number of young mangoes. Officials from the Meteorological Office and Agricultural Department informed growers that there is a heightened likelihood of Nor’westers, heavy rainfall, hail, and lightning this season under the influence of El Niño. This intensifies the concern among growers.
Senior meteorological observer Md Rahidul Islam of the Rajshahi weather office said, “There was very low rainfall between November and February. That allows moisture to accumulate in the atmosphere. With the onset of the storm season and El Niño effects, rainfall and storm tendency are expected to increase. The accumulated vapour may turn into hailstorms, which are highly damaging to crops. Early-season storms could be more intense than usual due to El Niño, which is usually more acute at the beginning of the season and decreases from June to August. This also poses risks to mango, lychee and other crops.
Growers noted that many orchards have already fallen short of expected yields due to adverse conditions. However, they remain cautiously hopeful that if the remaining fruit survives and sells at a good price during peak season, some of the losses may still be recovered.
According to the Regional Agriculture Office in Rajshahi, mangoes have been cultivated on 92,552 hectares of land in the Rajshahi region in the 2025–26 fiscal year. The total production target for the season has been set at around 1.19 million tonnes. Of this, Rajshahi district accounts for 244,691 tonnes from 19,061 hectares, Naogaon 421,612 tonnes from 30,310 hectares, Natore 72,853 tonnes from 5,693 hectares, and Chapainawabganj 458,912 tonnes from 37,487 hectares.
However, in the 2024–25 season, favourable weather conditions resulted in gross production of around 1.2 million tonnes across the four districts. Although this year’s target is set slightly lower at around 1.19 million tonnes, horticulture officials fear that adverse weather could further reduce output.
Papia Rahman Mouri, additional deputy director (Horticulture) of the DAE in Rajshahi, told Bonik Barta, “Flowering in the district reached 91 percent this year, higher than usual. However, early dense fog, pest infestations, and dry weather caused some buds to fall, followed by a natural drop of young fruits. What survives will remain.”
She added, “So far, I’ve spoken with around 50 mango growers in Rajshahi. Many of them reported that timely irrigation, pesticide application, and proper orchard care prevent fruit from damage. But their main concern remains the weather. If adverse conditions occur, they will suffer losses. No one has control over nature. If the weather remains favourable, the existing fruit is still sufficient to meet production targets. But if conditions worsen, both the target and farmers will be affected.”
Abdur Rahim, a grower from Paba Upazila, said drought has made it difficult to retain fruit on trees. “I don’t understand how to manage the situation,” he said.
Another grower, Matiur Rahman from Bagmara, said, “We initially expected a bumper harvest, but now less than half of the fruit remains on the trees. Mangoes are dropping every day. Costs of fertiliser, pesticides, and irrigation have increased, while yields have declined. We’re in distress.”
Azmat Ali, a grower from Godagari Upazila in Rajshahi, said, “We tried everything to protect the mangoes, but due to water shortages, many trees didn’t bear fruit properly. If we don’t get a good price in the market now, it’ll be difficult to repay our loans.”
The situation in Chapainawabganj is comparatively better. With many orchards still holding a large amount of fruit, concerns over market price persist among growers and traders.
In Naogaon, grower Hafizur Rahman said the amount of buds in the initial stage had raised hopes of a good harvest, but the reality doesn’t match those expectations. “Without proper market oversight, all — from farmers to orchard owners — could face significant losses,” he warned. Another trader from Naogaon, Faridul Islam, said, “If mangoes sell at around BDT 2,000 per maund (1 maund = roughly 37.32 kg), some of the losses can be covered. But often we don’t get fair prices in the market. Becoming frustrated, some are even cutting down their orchards,” he added.
Senior Agricultural Marketing Officer Md Sanwar Hossain from the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) in Rajshahi told Bonik Barta, “25 ‘Market Actors Business Schools’ have been established in Charghat and Bagha upazilas to strengthen the mango marketing system, improve the value chain, and ensure fair prices for farmers. Steps are being taken to stop the practice of taking extra produce from traders under the pretext of “dholta”. Under this system, traders often forced farmers to give an additional two to eight kg per 40 kg, which is now being addressed through administrative directions issued to all deputy administrators.
He added that market monitoring activities will continue, with support from the DAM, other relevant agencies, and local administrations, to prevent middlemen or syndicates from destabilising the mango market.