From blossoms to bounty: The mango season that revives Rajshahi

Last week, I was passing by a Mango orchard in Kamarpara, just outside Rajshahi city. The trees were full of ripe mangoes that were ready to be picked and sent to the markets. Rofiq Howlader, the owner of the orchard, was there as well.

"In winter, the trees look almost depressed, but come spring, they bloom again. And with them, so do we," he said.

This seasonal shift is not just a metaphor. For the people of Rajshahi, mango season is both a lifeline for local economies as it provides employment, business, and upholds the region's identity as the country's mango capital.

Though the harvest happens during the summer season, the cycle begins much earlier. The process of mango farming begins at the end of spring.

"We start taking care of the trees from early spring. Every flower counts. If one blossom is lost, that's one fruit less at harvest," Rofiq added.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), nearly 3,364,000 mango trees spread across 19,600 hectares in Rajshahi alone are expected to yield over 13 tonnes per hectare this year.

Regional production data projects a total yield of 2,45,000 tonnes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, 1,61,250 tonnes from Naogaon, and another 56,000 tonnes from Natore. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent livelihoods, export potential, and national pride.

Rajshahi accounts for nearly 25-30% of the total mango production in Bangladesh. The region's unique combination of dry soil, ample sunshine, and low humidity during the flowering season makes it ideal for mango farming.

The mango farming calendar here is highly structured; it starts with flowering in late February to March, followed by fruit setting in April, bagging and pesticide-free care in May, and gradual harvesting from late May through August. This phased schedule maintains the steady market supply of mangoes.

The harvest of the early-season mango, Gopalbhog, started on 22 May this year. It is famous for its smooth texture and sweetness; it has a high market price, starting from Tk2,400 to Tk3,000 per maund. Smaller ones are priced between Tk1,000 and Tk1,800 per maund, depending on size and quality.

The harvest of Ranipachhand and Lakhna started from 25 May, and then Khirsapat—also known as Himsagar—on 30 May. Khirsapat is considered one of the finest; it sells for Tk1,800 to Tk2,200 per maund.

The harvest of Langra started in the middle of June, and it sells for Tk1,600 to Tk2,500 per maund, and Amrapali is being sold for Tk1,800 to Tk2,200 per maund.

"The prices are somewhat lower this year compared to last year. Large native mango varieties are being sold at Tk1,400 per maund, while the smaller ones fetched Tk800 to Tk1,000 in the early stages," said Sharier Alam from Puthiya Upazila.

Later in the season, varieties like Fazli, BARI-4, Ashwina, Gourmati, and Ilamati will be in the market.

"We are now harvesting some of the native varieties commonly known as Guti or Chosa, including Sagarika, Boishakhi, Chapra, and Chorsha. There are around 280 to 300 local varieties. They ripen naturally, one after another," Rofiq said.

The Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates this year's mango production could generate around Tk10,000 crore in market value, producing much-needed liquidity in local economies.

As more varieties ripen and reach maturity, markets in Baneswar, Shaheb Bazar, Haragram, Upashahar, Shalbagan, Rajabari, Godagari, Kansat, and Rohanpur have become visibly busier.

Baneswar, the largest mango market in Rajshahi. From early morning until late evening, trucks arrive, crates are unloaded, and deals are struck—many in cash, some on credit, all based on trust and experience.

"In the last two weeks, trading has picked up fast, the harvest is good, and I hope trading will go better as more varieties hit the market," said Rajib Sarker, a trader from Chapainawabganj who has been in the business for over 20 years and has leased more than 800 mango trees this year.

More than 20,000 traders, middlemen, transporters, and day labourers are directly involved in Rajshahi's mango trade each year. During peak season, the Baneswar market alone handles nearly 300 truckloads of mangoes per day, connecting growers to buyers from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and even across the border to Kolkata through export channels.

The mangoes of Rajshahi are not limited to Bangladesh; rather, it has a huge market demand abroad too. Seasonal businessman KM Sadman Sakib shared that he had already shipped nearly three tonnes of mangoes abroad this year.

"We are exporting to Europe and a few Middle Eastern markets. Foreign currency is coming in because of our mangoes," he said.

He also mentioned that the export process requires clean, uniform fruit, free from chemical residues and physical blemishes.

"Fruit-bagging has really helped; we cover the mangoes in paper bags while they are still on the tree. It keeps them safe from pests and eliminates the need for pesticides," he added.

This method is labour-intensive, yet it is gaining popularity.

"Export is nearly twice as profitable as domestic sales, but you need to invest in proper sorting, grading, packaging, and transportation," Sakib cautioned.

But behind all the revenue and the tonnes of production are the hands of thousands. From day labourers in the orchards to truck drivers carrying crates across districts, the mango season employs an entire ecosystem.

"This season gives us life, even if just for a few months, we earn, we send money home, we survive," said Adnan, a day labourer from Baneswar.

Mango season creates seasonal employment in harvesting, sorting, transportation, packaging, and retail. For many rural families, this income is crucial, especially in a region where alternative employment is not really available.

"I only work during mango season, for the rest of the year, we barely survive on small farm work or stitching jobs. These two months pay for school fees, clothes, and even small repairs to our home," said Nazma Begum, who works at a fruit sorting warehouse in Haragram.