I am from the city of Mango; my birthplace is famous for its world-class mango production. This is Chapai Nawabgonj of the Rajshahi division.
But in recent years, there has been a debate for another name for the volume of mango production in Bangladesh. People wondered if another name should be given to the high volume of mangoes produced in the neighboring district of Naogaon.
I received an invitation from a dear friend who owned three magnificent mango projects in Naogaon. Eager to explore this new territory of mangoes, I embarked on a journey to the land of my friend’s beautiful gardens. On Tuesday morning, I set out on a 36-kilometer journey from my village to Naogaon. I stayed there for almost a day and saw around 4-5 projects.
Coming from a village with many mango trees and large gardens, I noticed significant differences between the mangoes grown in my hometown and those in Naogaon. The mango trees in Naogaon were only 2 to 3 years old and were a mix of new and hybrid varieties. They required a lot of care, including fertilizers and chemicals, to grow well. These trees remained productive for about 10 years.
In contrast, the mango trees in my hometown of Chapai Nawabgonj were much older, some reaching 50 to 60. These trees didn’t need much care and grew naturally. They could remain productive for over 100 years.
The taste of the mangoes also differed between the two areas. The mangoes from Naogaon’s farms were sweet and didn’t have much fiber. On the other hand, Chapai Nawabgonj had different mango varieties, some of which could only be grown in that specific area. These mangoes had unique flavors that couldn’t be found elsewhere.
There have been debates on social media about which place is the actual “mango city.” While farming technology has significantly impacted increasing mango production, the kingdom of mangoes, Chapai Nawabgonj, remains unbeatable.
The city of Mango, with its world-class mango production, and Naogaon, with its new and hybrid mango varieties, each have their own charm. The debate about which place is better continues, but both areas contribute to the rich mango heritage of Bangladesh.
