Mango orchards to be regenerated

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 8: A team of scientists from the Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, would arrive in Malda and demonstrate the regeneration of old mango orchards on 15 and 16 January with financial assistance from the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), the district mango development officer said today. The Malda district horticulture department has selected mango orchards which are located on plots of one acre at the Malda airport, which are not presently used, for the training of farmers. A total of 200 mango farmers from Malda and five from the neighbouring mango-producing district would be invited here for the training. Besides this, panchayat officials would also be invited to attend the programme to make farmers aware about the regeneration of old mango orchards. At the Malda airport, scientists would show detopping, the removal of old top branches of trees, bearing such varieties like Fazli, Ashwina, Lakhmanbhog, Himsagar. Regeneration improves the quantity and quality of fruits. Recently scientists have come to the conclusion that 60-year-old trees must be regenerated to boost production in Malda district. Since 2005 the Malda district horticulture department is trying to introduce replacement of old trees. In many areas, farmers and orchard owners have uprooted trees which are more than 60 years old and have planted new varieties of tress like Amropali, Mallika, Himsagar, Lakshmanbhog. Malda has 25,500 hectares under mango cultivation. Out of that 35 per cent of the orchards are above 60 years old. The department has decided to replace more than 15 per cent under the regeneration programme. “Regeneration after every 20 years is a must for mango trees for better production”, said Mr Samarendranath Khara, the district mango development officer. The horticulture department is expecting good production this year considering favourable climate till date.