The Rajshahi district administration has set the picking times for mangoes this season. The administration fixes these dates every year to ensure consumers get good-quality, mature mangoes. Under the decision, growers and traders may start bringing down mangoes from 15 May this year.

The announcement was made after a meeting with agriculturists, fruit researchers, mango growers and traders in the deputy commissioner's conference room at midday on Sunday, 12 May.

A mango calendar was published at the meeting, chaired by Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed. Under the decision, picking will start with guti mangoes on 15 May. Gopalbhog, Lakhna or Lakkhanbhog, and Ranipachhanda can be picked from 25 May.

Himsagar and Khirsapat may be picked from 30 May, Langra and Banana mango from 10 June, and Amrapali and Fazli from 15 June. BARI-4 will be available from 5 July, Ashwina from 10 July, Gourmati from 15 July, and all varieties including Ilamati from 20 August.

The meeting warned that strict action would be taken against any farmer or trader who picks immature mangoes before time. But if mangoes ripen early somewhere because of the weather, they may be picked and marketed after obtaining a certificate from the local upazila agriculture officer.

Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed told the meeting that mangoes are Rajshahi's heritage, and dates are set every year to ensure mature and safe mangoes in the market. This year too the "mango calendar" was set on the basis of the views of farmers, agriculture officials, traders and everyone concerned. Strict action would be taken against any farmer or trader who picked immature mangoes before time. Police would be at the markets round the clock, and the upazila nirbahi officers and assistant commissioners concerned would also oversee the matter, he said.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi said mangoes were grown on 18,515 hectares in the district last season and on 19,578 hectares this year, an increase of 1,063 hectares.

Last year the district produced 2,06,156 tonnes of mangoes. This year's production target is 2,58,450 tonnes, which those concerned hope means 13.20 tonnes a hectare.

According to DAE sources in Rajshahi, the district's nine upazilas have mango orchards on 19,602 hectares, and the production target this year has been set at 2,60,164 tonnes. Last time growers earned Tk 1,528 crore 2 lakh 99 thousand 770 from 19,578 hectares in the district.

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