Saptari Mango Orchards Bloom, Bringing Hope for Bumper Harvest Amid Favorable Weather

Anil Pokharel
Rajbiraj. As soon as the morning sun rises, farmer Ramlakhan Yadav of Shambhunath Municipality-2 reaches his mango orchard. Observing the blossoms on the branches, he says, "It's been many years since I've seen such flowers; if the weather cooperates, this year's debt will be cleared."

Similar scenes are visible in most villages of Saptari. Trees covered more with flowers than leaves, the fragrance of blossoms filling the garden, and hope blossoming in the eyes of the farmers—all these indicate a good harvest this year.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center Saptari, mango cultivation covers an area of 8,253 hectares in the district. If favorable weather persists, production is estimated to reach about 75 thousand metric tons. However, more important to the farmers than these statistics is the safety of the flowers in the orchard.

Sitaram Mandal, a farmer from Rupni, says, "The flowers look good, but there is a fear that the storms in Chaitra-Baishakh might spoil everything." Farmers are cautious this year as hailstorms caused significant damage last year. Spraying medicine to control diseases like 'Madhubaja' has also increased.

Malda variety mangoes are widely cultivated in Saptari. Additionally, Krishnabhog, Amrapali, Bombay, and Kalkatiya varieties are also abundant. After production, these mangoes are supplied not only to local markets but also to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, and Dharan.

According to a farmer from Mahuli, traders have already started visiting the orchards. "It's easier to finalize a contract when the flowers look good," he says, "It brings peace of mind when an agreement is made beforehand rather than searching for a market later."

Due to limited irrigation facilities and poor yields of other crops on dry land, many farmers here have made mangoes their main source of income. They believe that a good harvest can cover family expenses, children's education, and even home improvements.

Statistics show that mango cultivation covers about 29,099 hectares in Madhesh Province, with Saptari being one of the major production areas.

The blossoms spread across the orchards now have added sweetness to the hearts of the farmers. But they must wait a few more months for that sweetness to transform into fruit. If the weather cooperates, it is expected that Saptari's mango orchards will bring genuine smiles to the faces of the farmers this year.