Cyclone Remal: Satkhira mango export faces setback amid low yield

Mango export to Europe from Satkhira may face a setback this year as farmers have seen lower yields than anticipated due to recent Cyclone Remal and drought. 

The mangoes are also reportedly smaller in size, raising fear that the export target this season would not be met. 

Satkhira District Agricultural Extension Department Deputy Director Agriculturist Md Saiful Islam said the yield of mangoes in the current season has been low, hence failing to achieve the quality of the export. 

So far, 50 tons of Himsagar and Gobindobhog variety mangoes have been exported to England, Sweden, and Italy. 

Officials said in continuation of this, Langra and Amrapali mangoes of Satkhira have the potential to be exported to Europe. 

According to the Satkhira Department of Agricultural Extension, the target of exporting 300 tons of mangoes from Satkhira was set this season. 

To achieve the target, 300 farmers of Satkhira Sadar, Kalaroa and Debhata upazilas were trained to produce exportable mangoes.  

Hazrat Ali, assistant manager of Tasin Enterprise, a mango exporter in Dhaka, said there is a huge demand for Himsagar mangoes from Satkhira in the European market. However, due to the poor production of mangoes, it has become difficult to procure exportable mangoes. 

Rafiqul Islam, a mango farmer in the Bakal area in Satkhira, said: "I have a mango orchard on 25 bighas of land. But this time the mango yield was not good. For this, we have been able to send only 4 tons of Gobindobhog and 2 tons of Himsagar mangoes abroad.”

However, he added, this year, the price for mangoes is good. Last season, mangoes were sold at Tk2,400-2,500 per maund, but this time the price is Tk3,200-3,400 per maund.