At the very start of the mango season, growers in Rajshahi, known as the mango capital, face many doubts. They are urging those concerned not to cause losses to growers and wider harm to this promising sector in the name of fixing harvest dates.

In orchards, young fruit has just formed from the blossom, in places the size of a pea. Amid intensive care to keep fruit on the trees, growers fear another blow at harvest.

Mango traders say growers have been obstructed and harmed at every step of marketing, suffering most while obeying government orders. They claim 80 per cent of mango traders have quit, and if the remaining 20 per cent turn away, workers will starve.

At Pannapara, Charghat, an area of almost all mango growers, more than a hundred growers, traders and workers from Bagha and Charghat gathered in an orchard. They said baseless allegations are obstructing production and orchard sales have stalled.

Dr Alimuddin, chief scientific officer of the Fruit Research Centre, Rajshahi, does not support fixed dates, since different varieties and lines ripen at different times. DAE additional deputy director Monjurul Haque said they are alert to ensure farmers are not harmed by dates this year. Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin said they are watching both public health and farmers' interests, and consumers and farmers alike must be aware. Growers ask why, when they get no government help growing mangoes, they must wait for orders to pick them.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.