RAJSHAHI, May 21, 2018 (BSS) – Mango, the juicy and delicious fruit of the summer season, has started appearing in the markets of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts since Sunday last.
Some indigenous varieties along with Gopalbhog have appeared in the markets as farmers and traders have started harvesting mango since yesterday abiding by the instruction of local administration.
A ban on mango harvesting and marketing had been imposed in the district till May 19 to give optimum time for natural ripening of the delicious seasonal fruit. District administration had taken the decision to prevent immature mango ripening artificially through mixing harmful chemicals.
Considering the time variation of ripening of different varieties of mango, the ban was imposed on harvesting Gopalbhog till May 20, Himsagar, Khirsapat and Lakhna before June 1, Langra before June 6, Amropaly and Fazli before June 16 and Ashwina before July 1.
Dev Dulal Dhali, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), told BSS that most of the mangoes will become matured and ripen within the stipulated time and then those could be harvested normally.
He said the indigenous varieties of mangoes including Gopalbhog have already ripened. But the other delicious and famous varieties- Khirshapat and Langra need some more days to be ripen. The mango growers and traders were kept in close observation and monitoring.
“Mangoes mixed with deadly chemicals such as carbide is extremely hazardous to human health. The chemical has a long-term affect on human body,” Dhali said.
He said only 100 gram of calcium carbide can ripen nearly 100 kilogram of mangoes while the chemicals could cause deadly diseases like cancer, kidney and liver complications.
Meanwhile, the district administration is ensuring all requisite privileges and security to the farmers and the traders concerned.
Monitoring committee has been formed to oversee enforcement of the decision.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Kader said formalin-mixed mango is harmful to the public health. So, through field-level strict surveillance, mango harvesting and marketing has been banned till May 19.
According to the sources concerned, mango has been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of land and the production target has been earmarked 244,000 tonnes in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.
Apart from this, mango has been cultivated on 12,671 hectares of land in Naogaon district with fixing a production target of 1,61,242 tonnes while in Natore district, mango has been cultivated on 4,823 hectares of land with a production target of 56,021 tonnes.