While harvest deadlines have been set for mangoes in various districts, the local administration in Chapainawabganj has set none, so growers can sell mangoes as soon as they ripen.

The decision was taken at a preparatory meeting held at 11am on Thursday (16 May) in the Chapainawabganj deputy commissioner's conference room on preparing a "mango calendar" and on producing, marketing and transporting safe, chemical-free mangoes.

The meeting was chaired by Chapainawabganj Deputy Commissioner A K M Galiv Khan. Speakers included Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mahbub-ul Islam; agriculturist Palash Sarkar, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension; Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, chief scientific officer of the Mango Research Centre; Munjer Alam Manik, general secretary of the Chapainawabganj Krishi Association; and Ismail Khan Shamim, general secretary of the Shibganj Mango Producer Co-operative Society.

With growers' consent, the meeting announced that mangoes may be picked and sold once they ripen on the tree. No calendar is being declared for mango picking this time; the decision was taken for the growers' convenience.

The meeting also said strict action would be taken against any dishonest trader who picks immature mangoes.

The agriculture department has set a target of 4 lakh 50 thousand metric tonnes of mangoes in Chapainawabganj this year, up from 4 lakh 25 thousand metric tonnes last year.

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