For the first time in over a decade, mangoes from Rajshahi's Bagha upazila have failed to reach international markets, leaving local farmers and traders disheartened. Excessive rainfall this season has affected the fruit's appearance, making them unfit for export and ending a 14-year streak of successful overseas shipments.
Mango growers and exporters in Bagha, traditionally known for supplying premium fruit to European destinations, are facing major setbacks as their produce remains unsold in foreign markets. The rain has impacted the colour and visual quality of the mangoes—key criteria for export readiness—prompting foreign buyers to decline orders. In the previous season, 105 metric tons of mangoes from the region were exported to countries including the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, France, and Russia.
Bagha, known for its historic 500-year-old Shahi Mosque, shares a deep cultural bond with mango cultivation. The upazila has 8,570 hectares of mango orchards, accounting for nearly half of Rajshahi district's total of 17,943 hectares. Popular varieties such as Gopalbhog, Himsagar, Amrapali, Lengra, Totapuri, Fazli, and Lakhna are cultivated here and have been in high demand internationally.
Ashrafudoula, an exporter from Kaligram, explained that with support from the agriculture office, they had previously used specially designed packaging featuring terracotta imagery from Shahi Mosque to market their mangoes abroad. "Despite all preparations, this year no export orders came through," he said, adding that farmers and traders are now facing financial losses. Bagha Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiullah Sultan confirmed the setback, stating that the mangoes did not develop the ideal colour needed for export due to excessive rainfall.
While Bagha faces localised challenges, mango exports from other parts of Bangladesh continue. The country aims to export 4,000 tons of mangoes over the next three months, with 600 tons already shipped to 25 countries in just 16 days, according to Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Project Director of the Exportable Mango Production Project under the Department of Agricultural Extension. The United Kingdom—particularly England—is expected to remain the largest export destination.
Rahman noted that the varieties typically exported include Gopalbhog, Himsagor, and Lengra. Mangoes are currently being exported at prices ranging from US$5 to US$5.5 per kilogram, although freight charges account for a large portion of the cost, ranging from US$3 to US$4. Officials reported that Bangladesh exported 1,320 tons of mangoes to 21 countries last year and approximately 3,100 tons in 2022–23. In contrast, 1,321 tons were shipped in 2023–24.
According to producers and officials, Bangladesh has yielded an estimated 2.7 million tons of mangoes this year, similar to the 2022–23 total and slightly above the 2.45 million tons recorded in 2023–24. Exporters are required to follow formal procedures, including registration with the Export Promotion Bureau, obtaining an Export Registration Certificate, and securing a Certificate of Registration as an Exporter of Horticultural Products, especially for shipments to the European Union.
Source 1: Daily Observer
Source 2: Financial Express