Commercial mango picking will begin in Chuadanga from 14 May. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aminul Islam Khan.

The deputy commissioner said harvesting would begin for Anti, Guti and Bombai varieties from 14 May (31 Boishakh), Himsagar from 22 May (8 Joishtho), Langra from 25 May (11 Joishtho), Amrapali (BARI Aam-3) from 5 June (22 Joishtho), Fazli from 21 June (7 Asharh) and Ashwina BARI-4 from 1 July (17 Asharh).

He added that no chemicals may be used to ripen or preserve mangoes. If mangoes are ripened illegally, appropriate action will be taken under the Consumer Rights Protection Act and the Safe Food Act.

Bibhas Chandra Saha, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chuadanga, said commercial picking from the trees would begin in phases from 14 May, starting with the Anti, Guti and Bombai varieties.

He said nobody may pick immature mangoes outside the schedule set for the district, and legal action will be taken against anyone who breaks it.

The decision was taken on Tuesday afternoon at a meeting on mango harvesting and marketing in the conference room of the Chuadanga deputy commissioner's office, attended by the district administration, agriculture officials, orchard owners and mango traders.

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