Mango orchard owners and traders of Rajshahi are afraid of incurring a big loss during the coming mango season as they are apprehending damage of blossoms due to severe cold and dense fog.
It is learnt, to ensure a bumper production of mango, owners of the orchards have sprayed insecticides on their trees and mango-blossoms have started to bloom on the branches. However, they were worried, if such hazy and cold weather continued for days the buds may get damaged.
Shamsul Alam (45), a mango trader of Raipur village under Charghat upazila informed, he purchased mango- orchards worth Tk 20 lakh in advance and already sprayed insecticides two times on the trees. The mango buds have also already started to appear on some trees but he was extremely worried, if dense fog and cold weather continued further, the young or ‘guti’ mango may not sprout from the buds.
He further informed, if the mango production gets a setback, he will have to suffer an irreparable loss. He has borrowed money for advance payment for purchasing orchards from his relatives and banks.
Mango farmer Rafiqul Islam Rafique of Kaluhati village under the same upazila informed, the dense fog is poised to destroy the buds of mango. If such weather condition lingers further for couples of days more, mango buds will be damaged completely but if the fog disappeared showing bright sunshine within a short time, the mango buds will grow well.
AKM Monjure Maula, Charghat upazila Agriculture Officer informed, since insecticides are being sprayed on the trees, it is unlikely that there will be any gross damage of mango buds. He suggested, the farmers should apply Manco Jeb powder mixed with water on trees to ensure no damage to mango buds.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, cold wave with foggy weather prevailed throughout the day and the temperature fell further at night. The lowest temperature recorded on Thursday was 8.2 degree Celsius as against the highest temperature of 22 degree. Meteorological department in Rajshahi, however, forecast a further drop in mercury with fog and chilly weather during next 24 hours.
Source: The Financial Express