A mango for all seasons

Enamul Haque, a farmer from Chapainawabganj's Shibganj, brought some branches of Golden Mango trees from Vietnam three years ago. He knew the business potential of this mango variety as it produces all over the year.

He used the branches to grow seedlings through grafting technique. Later, he planted around 60 seedlings in his 40 bighas of land in Nakkatitala-Balutungi village of Dhayanagar union.

The orchard contains 600 golden mango trees, including 114 big trees. He is now commercially cultivating Golden Mango and gets 2.5-3 maunds of mango from a mature tree.

Enamul now has 50,000-60,000 seedlings of Golden Mango trees. He has also leased another 40 bighas of land for commercial production of this mango variety.

"I lived in different countries in the Middle East for a long time. I lived in Vietnam for one year. When I returned home from Vietnam three years ago, I brought some branches of Golden Mango. I came to the realization that to solve the unemployment issue in the country, becoming an entrepreneur is critical," said Enamul Haque.

He said a mature tree of this variety produces mangoes three to four times a year. New buds grow in some branches of a tree, while the other branches still have mangoes. 

"The price of this mango is also quite good as it grows all through the year. I have sold this mango for up to Tk1,000 per kg. The price per maund is Tk24,000-25,000 in the mango season," he said.

"However, we break the buds of Golden Mangoes during the mango season to get more mangoes at other times. It increases the weight of mangoes," he added.

Blossoming buds, small green mangoes and mature ripe mangoes can be found in the same tree at a time in Enamul's Golden Mango orchard.

"This Vietnamese mango variety is moderately sweet. One kg consists of three mangoes. Maximum weight of a mature mango is around 700gm," said the agro-entrepreneur. 

"This mango turns yellowish when ripe. A tree produces mangoes three to four times a year. Due to irregular production, the price is Tk600-700 per kg. Sometimes, it is sold for a maximum Tk1000 per kg," he added.

Enamul said he sold Golden Mangoes for Tk40,000 per maund last year.

Other farmers of his neighbourhood have been inspired by Enamul to cultivate Golden Mango in their orchards.

"I come to this garden regularly and try to learn about this variety of mangoes. I plan on cultivating Golden Mango on 10 bighas of land in the near future," said Khurshed Alam, a farmer.

Currently, six to seven people work in his orchard on a regular basis.

Shahjahan Ali, an employee of Enamul Haque's garden, said, "This area lacks employment opportunities. I have been working in this orchard since the beginning. I, along with seven to eight workers, take care of the garden."

Enamul Haque has also started a nursery to produce different kinds of trees, including Golden Mango.

"Golden Mango is a delicious mango that can be harvested with proper care. That is why there is a huge demand for Golden Mango trees. We sell each Golden Mango sapling for Tk130-500, depending on the size," said Sabbir Ahmed, manager of Haq Nursery and Golden Mango Orchard.

Nazrul Islam, deputy director of the district agriculture extension department, said, "This Golden Mango is a foreign variety, from Vietnam. The government has not yet authorised the cultivation of this mango. Enamul is cultivating it on his own initiative."

"However, Golden Mango is an irregular variety as it grows all throughout the year. But it is not possible to cultivate this mango on a large scale," he added.