The government has set variety-wise dates for picking mangoes. Under the schedule, picking of Gopalbhog, Gobindabhog, Golapkhas and other local varieties began in Satkhira on 5 May.

This year the last variety, Gourmati, will be picked from 14 August, with other mangoes harvested in between. So although mango picking starts in May, differences in when varieties ripen in each district mean mangoes can be harvested until the first week of October.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) earlier drew up a nationwide mango calendar (schedule) of harvest dates.

Last Sunday, a meeting on preparing the calendar was held at Khamarbari, organised by the export-oriented mango production project and chaired by the director general of the DAE. Mango scientists, agriculturists, exporters and deputy directors of the agriculture departments of mango-growing districts attended, after which the mango calendar was finalised.

The meeting was told that Bangladeshi mangoes are exported to 37 countries. Trade in farm produce with those countries is bound up with friendly relations between the states, so picking and marketing mangoes at the right time is very important for exports. The meeting set probable harvest dates by variety and district.

Speakers said mangoes must be picked at exactly the right stage of maturity to export quality fruit and keep the market stable. Mangoes should not be picked until they are fully mature, because immature fruit does not ripen properly and tastes sour or only slightly sweet. Ripening times differ for climatic and geographical reasons, so district-wise, variety-wise harvest times are needed to export quality mangoes.

Dr Sharaf Uddin presented the keynote paper, and Mohammad Arifur Rahman spoke on mango exports and marketing in a global context.

The DAE has drawn up the schedule according to exportable mango varieties, while district administrations also prepare mango schedules based on local weather and climate. To stop immature mangoes being picked and marketed, the Satkhira district administration has already announced its harvest schedule, with strict instructions that no variety may be picked or sold before the set date.

• Satkhira: Under the district administration's schedule, picking of Gopalbhog, Gobindabhog, Golapkhas, Baishakhi, Bombai and other local varieties began on 5 May. Himsagar is set for 15 May, Langra for 27 May and Amrapali for 5 June. Picking of export mangoes will begin five to seven days after the district administration's dates: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog from 12 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat from 22 May, Langra from 10 June and BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) from 15 June.
• Chuadanga: Export picking starts on 15 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 15 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 27 May, Langra 10 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 20 June and BARI Aam-4 22 June.
• Jashore: Export picking also starts on 15 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 15 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 28 May, Langra 10 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 21 June and BARI Aam-4 23 June.
• Meherpur: Export picking starts on 16 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 16 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 28 May, Langra 11 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 22 June, Fazli 23 June and BARI Aam-4 24 June.
• Kushtia: Export picking starts on 20 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 20 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 29 May, Langra 11 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 22 June, Fazli 24 June and BARI Aam-4 26 June.
• Natore: Export picking starts on 25 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 25 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 30 May, Langra 12 June, BARI Aam-2 Lakshmanbhog and Banana Mango 16 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 25 June, Fazli 26 June and BARI Aam-4 5 July.
• Rajshahi: Export picking starts on 25 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 25 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 30 May, Langra 12 June, BARI Aam-2 Lakshmanbhog 16 June, Banana Mango 18 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 25 June, Fazli 26 June, BARI Aam-4 5 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 31 July.
• Chapainawabganj: Export picking starts on 26 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 26 May, Himsagar and Khirsapat 4 June, Langra 14 June, BARI Aam-2 Lakshmanbhog 18 June, Haribhanga 20 June, Banana Mango 22 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 27 June, Fazli 30 June, BARI Aam-4 6 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 4 August.
• Naogaon: Export picking starts on 1 June: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 1 June, Himsagar and Khirsapat 8 June, Langra 17 June, Haribhanga 22 June, Banana Mango 23 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 28 June, Fazli 30 June, BARI Aam-4 8 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 8 August.
• Rangpur: Export picking starts on 30 May: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 30 May, Langra 18 June, Haribhanga 23 June, Banana Mango 23 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 30 June, BARI Aam-4 15 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 11 August.
• Dinajpur: Export picking starts on 2 June: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 2 June, Himsagar and Khirsapat 18 June, Langra 20 June, Haribhanga 24 June, Banana Mango 28 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 1 July, BARI Aam-4 20 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 12 August.
• Thakurgaon: Export picking starts on 3 June: Gopalbhog and Gobindabhog 3 June, Haribhanga 26 June, Banana Mango 30 June, BARI Aam-3 (Amrapali) 4 July, BARI Aam-4 20 July and BARI Aam-12 Gourmati 14 August.

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