Chapainawabganj district is famous for its mangoes, and its tasty fruit has been exported abroad many times. Most recently, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 1 August, one metric tonne of Gourmati mangoes was sent for export to Sweden.

The mangoes are being exported by Rafiqul Islam of Nachole upazila in Chapainawabganj. So far this year he has exported 10 metric tonnes of mangoes.

"I have exported about 10 metric tonnes of mangoes of different varieties, including Amrapali and Haribhanga," Rafiqul Islam told Jagonews. "Today (Tuesday) I sent one metric tonne of Gourmati. My orchard produces about 18 varieties, including Amrapali, BARI-4, Khirshapati and Fazli. All of them are fit for export."

"I have built the orchard on about 800 bighas of leased land," he said. "Sixty to seventy workers work in my orchard every day, so it has created jobs for them too."

Nachole Upazila Agriculture Officer Saleh Akram said they were giving Rafiqul all kinds of support. He has sent mangoes abroad many times before, and his is the biggest mango orchard in the upazila. The agriculture minister also recently visited his orchard.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.