For the first time, pesticide-free Himsagar mangoes from Sharsha in Jashore are going to Europe. On Sunday (14 May) afternoon, a tonne of mangoes was collected for export to Europe from the orchard of Abu Naim in Baikola village in the upazila.

Upazila agriculture officer Pratap Mondal, assistant agriculture extension officer Ramesh Chandra Biswas, assistant plant protection officer Farhad Sharif, sub-assistant agriculture officer Anisur Rahman, exporter's representative Hadiuzzaman Shahin and other upazila administration officials were present.

Farmer Abu Naim said the first tonne of Himsagar mangoes has been sold for export to Europe, and he hopes to get more orders soon.

He said that although the first mangoes from his orchard went to Sweden, there are plans to market them in phases in Germany, France, Italy and England.

Hadiuzzaman Shahin, representative of ACI Logistics, said most local traders buy mangoes from these farmers by showing 8 kg less per maund, and hold farmers hostage by citing various disasters. "We have taken this initiative to save them from that. Farmers will get a fair price," he said.

Sharsha upazila agriculture officer Pratap Kumar said mangoes are grown on 9,000 hectares in the upazila this year. Export of Himsagar mangoes from Sharsha to Europe has begun for the first time, and 100 tonnes of mangoes of various varieties, including Langra and Amrapali, will be exported to different European markets in phases.

Picking of Gobindabhog, Gopalbhog, Khirsarai, Baishakhi and other varieties began in the upazila on 5 May, and Himsagar on 10 May. Picking of Langra, the "king of mangoes", will begin on 1 June.

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