A three-day agricultural technology fair has begun on the Bagha upazila premises in Rajshahi, and 135 varieties of mango are on display.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Tarikul Islam opened the fair on the morning of Thursday, 30 May.
Rare and local names on the tables
The mangoes on show include Rupsiduri, Takurbhita, Nayanchandi, Khagrai, Rangbilas, Indurchata, Mallika, Totapuri, Badli, Chapati, Dargabhog, Madhu Chushka, Kalibhog, Jagatmohini, Kalabati, Baleni, Mayabati, Bishwasundari, Bhadri, Jaitun, Apelbhog, Kohinur, Jalibandha, Dudhkomor, Chandansuri, Bangabasi, Madhurani, Hatijhola, Lakhe Ek, Beli and Surjo Dim, among the 135 varieties.
Visitors said the fair let them get to know countless mangoes whose names they had never heard. They also called for steps to conserve the varieties that are close to disappearing.
Nahid Hasan, who came to see the fair, told Jagonews24 that the Bagha fair brings out different mango varieties every year. "I come every time to see these mangoes and get to know the different kinds. This year too I saw many new varieties," he said.
Local resident Saidur Rahman said Bagha once had many varieties of mango that are no longer found. Because of high-yielding varieties, the original local mangoes are now only a memory, he said.
A mango farmer named Majid Ali said the fair lets people see many varieties, and many of those who see them become keen to buy. Growers hope events like this will widen the commercial demand for the region's mangoes.
Plans for a conservation centre
Bagha agriculture officer Shafiullah Sultan told Jagonews24 that Rajshahi once had about 400 varieties of mango. Over time these varieties are being lost, and many old mango varieties are disappearing because of commercialisation and demand.
He said the fair was organised to introduce the new generation to these varieties. Discussions are also under way with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) about setting up a plasma centre to conserve them, and further steps are being taken so that the mango varieties are not lost.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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