In Naogaon, one of Bangladesh's biggest mango-producing areas, rows of fruit-bearing mango trees extend across the horizon.
After overcoming weather-related obstacles, farmers in orchards in Sapahar, Porsha, and other upazilas are currently occupied with the last phases of care in the hopes of a fruitful harvest.
By the middle or end of June, the district's famous Amrapali mango, which constitutes the majority of local output, is expected to be available in shops and markets.
However, Naogaon still lacks large-scale processing enterprises or preservation facilities that could shield farmers from market instability and post-harvest losses while producing a significant amount of the nation's mangoes, according to producers.
Growers said that while traders frequently set prices during the busiest harvest seasons, rising production costs and labour rates continue to squeeze profit margins.
They claim that as supply increases, merchants band together to drive down prices, giving farmers little negotiating leverage.
The absence of mango-based industries has compounded the problem.
According to local traders, mangoes worth an estimated Tk 300-400 crore spoil every season because of inadequate storage and processing facilities.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), mango cultivation has expanded to 30,310 hectares in Naogaon this season, with a production target of 450,000 tonnes.
In 2025, mangoes were grown on 30,300 hectares, yielding around 375,000 tonnes.
“We have only 25 to 30 days to sell Amrapali mangoes after they start ripening,” said Redwanur Rahman Mun, a grower from Kuchkurilia village in Sapahar upazila.
“Farmers cannot keep the fruit on the trees beyond that period. When the market floods with mangoes, traders lower prices and force us to sell at reduced rates. A large cold storage facility or mango-based industry could save farmers from such losses,” he said.
Motour Rahman, a farmer from Amoir village in Porsha upazila, said, “weather conditions have been less favourable for mango cultivation this year than in previous seasons.”
“Almost all orchards have fewer fruits this season. Last year, I sold Amrapali mangoes at Tk 1,500 to Tk 4,000 per maund depending on quality. This year, if prices fall below Tk 3,000 per maund, it will be difficult even to recover production costs,” he added.
He further added that a mango processing zone could help stabilise prices and ensure fair returns for growers.
Sapahar, home to traders, which is described as the country’s largest mango market, attracts thousands of buyers from across Bangladesh every season.
Imam Hossain Rifat, general secretary of the Sapahar Mango Traders Association, said, “the seasonal market handles mango transactions worth Tk 6,000-7,000 crore annually.”
“Nearly 20 per cent of our mango production goes to waste every year, resulting in losses of around Tk 300-400 crore,” he said.
“Establishing large-scale processing industries would benefit not only farmers but also traders. It would create a sustainable market for surplus production and reduce wastage significantly,” he added.
Agriculture officials acknowledge the need for infrastructure to support the sector.
Humayra Mondal, deputy director of DAE in Naogaon, said, “various coordination meetings involving government agencies have raised the issue.”
“We have proposed the establishment of cooling houses and packing houses in the Sapahar region under a project focused on producing export-quality mangoes,” she also said.
“These facilities would help preserve fruit quality, reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ profitability,” she added.
For now, however, Naogaon’s mango growers continue to rely on a short marketing window and uncertain market prices.
As production continues to rise, stakeholders said investment in processing industries, cold-chain infrastructure and export-orientated facilities is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
