This season's mango harvest has formally begun in Chuadanga. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahirul Islam opened it on Thursday morning (15 May) by picking mangoes in an orchard near Adarsha Mohila College in the town.

A short discussion meeting on the occasion was chaired by Masudur Rahman Sarkar, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The deputy commissioner was chief guest, and district BNP general secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif and DAE additional deputy director Debashish Kumar Das attended as special guests.

Under the mango calendar drawn up by the agriculture department, picking of anti, guti and Bombai mangoes is allowed from 15 May. Himsagar can be picked from 22 May, Langra from 28 May, Amrapali from 5 June, Fazli from 15 June and BARI-4 from 28 June.

Mangoes have been grown on about 2,300 hectares in the district's four upazilas. Masudur Rahman Sarkar said about 35,000 tonnes could be produced this year. At an average production value of Tk 30-40 a kg, trade worth about Tk 150 crore is expected.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahirul Islam said Chuadanga is one of the country's most important mango-growing areas, and its Himsagar in particular is renowned at home and abroad. "We are committed to keeping that tradition," he said.

He added that farmers have been strictly instructed not to market unripe mangoes under any circumstances, that the picking schedule may be changed if the situation requires, and that the administration is also keeping a close watch to ensure there is no obstruction to the supply and marketing of mangoes.

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