RAJSHAHI, May 16, 2022 (BSS) - Juicy and delicious fruit Mango has started
appearing in the markets of Rajshahi city and its adjacent areas as its
harvesting began since Sunday morning, abiding by the instruction of local
administration.

Like the previous years, some of the indigenous varieties have appeared in
the markets as farmers and traders have started harvesting mangoes since the
morning following the instruction.

A ban on mango harvesting and marketing had been imposed in the district till
May 14 to give optimum time for natural ripening of the delicious seasonal
fruit.

District administration had taken the decision to prevent adulteration in the
mango ripening process using harmful chemicals.

Mozder Hossain, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE),
told BSS that most of the mangoes will mature and ripen within the stipulated
time and then those could be harvested normally.

He said some of the indigenous varieties of mangoes have already ripened. But
the other delicious and famous varieties- -Gopalbhog, Khirshapat and Langra--
need some more days to be ripened.

According to the administrative decision, the farmers can pluck local
varieties from May 15 while harvesting of Gopal Bhog mangoes will commence on
May 20 and Laxmanbhog, Laukhna and Ranipasand varieties will start on May 25.

The sweetest varieties of mango - like Khirsapat and Himsagar - will start
coming to markets on May 28, while Langra will begin on June 6. Harvest of
Fazli and Amrapali will start on June 15. Ashwina and BARI Mango-4 varieties
can be harvested from July 10.

District administration is closely monitoring the harvesting of mangoes in
addition to extending all necessary facilities to the farmers and traders for
harvesting and marketing of the seasonal fruits.

Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil urged all concerned to follow the time-frame
of mango harvesting for the sake of public interests.

Officials said mangoes have been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of areas in
Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts where it's expected to yield 2,44,000
tonnes of mangoes this year.

Mango groves were also nurtured on 12,671 hectares of land in Naogaon
district where the target was fixed to produce 1,61,242 tonnes of mangoes
while Natore district is expected to produce 56,021 tonnes of mangoes on
4,823 hectares of land.
 

Meanwhile, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts, nationwide famous for
mango production, have set the target to export 300 tonnes of mango to
different European and Middle East countries during the current harvesting
season.

To achieve the target, mangoes are being fruit bagged after the best use of
modern technologies in the two districts at present. Apart from this, the
best quality mangoes are being produced for export to foreign countries.

President of Rajshahi Agro Food Producer Society Anwarul Haque said mangoes
produced in Rajshahi are being exported to various European and many other
countries for the last couple of years, which is good news for Rajshahi
people.

 
He also said mango farming in the fruit-bagging method has gradually been
rising here for the last couple of years. If the mango is cultivated through
this method there is no need to use pesticide to prevent fruit-fly. As a
result, mango remained in poison-free condition.

He said many farmers and value chain actors got the necessary training on
best agricultural practices and with that, they started exploring the high-
value export markets.
 

The highest quantity of mango had been exported in 2016. Mango export is
almost double profitable than that of selling in local markets. But
additional cost and care is needed for preparing the exportable mango as it
requires use of modern technologies.