Mango grower by passion: Khulna lawyer Shahadat eyes record harvest

While many know Shahadat Hossain as a legal practitioner, residents of Digholia upazila know him for something else as well – a sprawling organic mango orchard that has flourished under his care for nearly four decades.

Spread across 39 bighas of land in Debnagar mouza, the orchard, popularly known as "Mango Haven," has become a local landmark and a testament to how passion for agriculture can transform inherited land into a thriving agribusiness.

This year, all of the orchard's nearly 1,200 mango trees have borne fruit, raising expectations of a bumper harvest. If weather conditions remain favourable and no natural calamities strike, Shahadat hopes to harvest around 1,000 maunds of mangoes and earn nearly Tk 20 lakh from sales.

The orchard features a wide range of popular varieties, including Himsagar, Langra, Amrapali, Mallika, Bari-4, Banana Mango and Katimon.

"I developed an interest in farming from my childhood," Shahadat told UNB. "After my SSC examination, I began planting trees on our ancestral land. Following my intermediate studies, I became increasingly interested in mango cultivation and started collecting seeds from quality mangoes, producing saplings and grafting them before planting."

Over the past 40 years, he has planted more than 1,200 mango trees, all of which are now fruit-bearing.

What began as a personal passion has gradually evolved into a full-fledged profession alongside his legal career.

"Now, mango farming has become my primary occupation in many ways. Through this orchard, I try to inspire others to engage in agriculture and tree plantation," Shahadat said.

Award-winning agricultural success

Shahadat's contribution to agriculture has earned national recognition. He received the President's Award for Agriculture in 1989 and later the Prime Minister's Award for Tree Plantation in 2011.

His success is rooted in a commitment to organic farming practices.

Unlike many commercial growers, Shahadat avoids harvesting mangoes prematurely. Instead, he follows a natural indicator to determine ripeness.

"When birds and other animals begin eating around 10 percent of the fruits, I know the mangoes have reached maturity. Only then do we start harvesting and marketing them," he explained.

Four decades of growing excellence

The 39-bigha project includes residential buildings, ponds, bamboo groves and fruit gardens. Among its most prized assets are two veteran trees – a Himsagar and a Langra variety – each around 60 years old.

"Every year, each of these trees produces nearly 20 maunds of mangoes," Shahadat said.

According to him, the current season is shaping up to be the most productive in the orchard's history. "This is the peak year for mango production. In the last 40 years, I have never witnessed such a high yield," he said.

The gradual aging of the trees has contributed to increasing productivity, making the orchard one of the most productive private mango farms in the region.

Khulna mangoes winning recognition

Although districts in northern Bangladesh traditionally dominate mango production, Shahadat believes mangoes grown in the Khulna region possess distinct advantages.

"The sweetness level of mangoes produced in the Khulna region is exceptionally high. Himsagar mangoes from this area are particularly delicious and aromatic," he said.

The orchard's diverse varieties help extend the harvesting season and attract buyers from different parts of the country.

Family support behind the journey

Shahadat credits much of his success to the encouragement he received from his late wife, a former principal of Khulna Government Women's College. "She inspired me greatly throughout this journey," he recalled.

Today, as the mango season reaches its peak, buyers, traders and visitors continue to flock to Mango Haven, where trees stand as living proof that dedication, patience and a love for nature can yield both economic success and national recognition.

With a harvest target of 1,000 maunds and expected sales of Tk20 lakh, Shahadat is optimistic that this season will become another milestone in his remarkable four-decade journey from lawyer to one of Khulna's most successful organic mango growers.