Mandarin Cultivation in Bangladesh

The mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco) are loose-jacket oranges serves as the most refreshing, delicious, wholesome and health promoting juicy fruits and as such they deserve a prominent place in daily dietary in most of the countries around the globe.  There is a number of problems behind the low yield of mandarin in Bangladesh. Poor management of orchard and mandarin tree declining is among the major problems. But there is a tremendous scope to increase its production by solving the problems. In Bangladesh, different hilly and other suitable areas have the potentiality to produce mandarin. Mandarin production can also be increased by implementing farmer’s training programs and using improved varieties with modern cultivation techniques.

Categories of mandarin growing areas

In Bangladesh mandarin growing areas can be divided in to three categories viz; A category, B category and C category (Islam, 1998). A category mandarin growing areas are where existing trees bear fruits in significant number and these areas are spreading over five Upozillas of Sylhet, four Upozillas of Moulvibazar, five Upozillas of Rangamati and seven Upozillas of Bandarban districts. B category mandarin growing areas are where existing trees bear fruits insignificantly and these areas are spreading over Sunamgang, Habigang, Khagrachari and some areas of Panchagarh districts. C category areas are suitable according to agro-climatic situations and spreading over Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Dhaka, Gazipur and Narshindhi districts.

Extension activities of mandarin orange

Before starting the “Greater Sylhet District Mandarin and Pineapple Project”, there was no remarkable activities on mandarin orange. But extension activities have been started with organized way in 8 Upozilas under project area. Around 30 mandarin orchards have been established so far. Activities have been started to produce mandarin seedlings under 3 nurseries. For homestead planting 2 seedlings/farm family in 1^st year and 4 in 2^nd year have been distributed among 1000 farm families. Around 10,000 (Ten thousands) existing mandarin trees brought under intercultural operation which is owned by 200 farm families. Different stations of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute also provide extension services like farmers training, distribution seedlings/saplings etc. 

On-farm visit to mandarin orchards

Task-force committee visited the different mandarin orchards of the farmers under Bandarban, Khagrachari, Moulvibazar and Sylhet and exchanged views with the agriculture officers, scientists and mandarin growers. They found that mandarin varieties nagpuri and khashi have been cultivated in 400 hectares of land under Ruma, Thanchi, Alikadam and Lama of Bandarban Districts for a long time. According to the mandarin growers it is to be mention here that mandarin cultivation have not been increased more over decreased due to insects pest infestation, lack of irrigation facilities during dry season and lack of good varieties.

Mandarin orchards of Mr. Mokbul Ahmed and Mr. Shaidullah at Mati Ranga under Khagrachari Districts have been visited by the task force members and they observed that Mr. Mokbul Ahmed have been commercially cultivated mandarin for a long time. He has 100 trees of 4 years old and a large number of trees around 15 years old. Yield of the trees was 300 to 600 mandarins according the age. He mentioned that the lack of irrigation facilities and insects pest attack are the major problems. Mr. Shahidullah has 400 to 500 mandarin trees of 12 years old and according to the task force members his oranges are sweet to taste.

Task force members also visited the orchards of Baralekha and Kuloura under Moulvibazer and Bianibazer under Sylhet districts. There are several farmers in that area who have mandarin trees of around 250 to 1000. They have mentioned that mandarin oranges have been cultivated there for more than100 years. Mr. Haji M. A. Wahid of Bianibazer has around 1000 mandarin trees among which 15 to 20 trees are around 30 to 35 years old. Many of the trees yielded around more than 1000 fruits/tree.