RAJSHAHI, May 17, 2024 (BSS)- Agricultural experts and extension officials
urged the farmers to produce export quality mango in the region including its
vast Barind tract for earning more foreign currency.
 
They mentioned need-based measures were taken to bring all the mango farmers
under requisite training for promotion of modern technologies to make the
mango harvesting and marketing process safe and hygienic for its boost
export.
 
They were addressing a daylong mango farmers training for exporting mango at
Binodpur mango orchard in Bagha upazila of the district on Thursday.
 
SMR Agro-tech Industry Limited organised the training titled "Mango
Collection, Segregation, Packaging, Transportation and Orchard nursing" aimed
at exporting mango through following best agricultural practices.

Around 100 farmers, including 35 contract growers, joined the training.

Chairman of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Roisul Alam Mondal and Former
Director General (DG) of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Nurul
Islam addressed the training as the chief and special guests respectively
with Chairman of the agro-tech industry Azharul Islam in the chair.
 
Managing Director of Agro-tech Industry Faisal Kabir, Upazila Agriculture
Officer Shafiullah Sultan and Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam also
spoke.
 
Roisul Alam Mondal mentioned that modern technologies need to be promoted
commercially in mango orchards in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts
during the pre-harvest season to protect mango from pest attack besides
facilitating the farmers to get quality and better yield.
 
Mango is a leading seasonal cash crop of the country's northwest region and
dominates the economy in the two districts famous for the delicious fruit.
 
He said there are about 30 lakh mango trees of different ages and varieties
on some 32,816 hectares in the region.
 
If the fruit bagging method was used substantially and use of harmful
chemical insecticides and pesticides could be reduced to a greater extent,
the technology will open up a new door of exporting mango of the two
districts, to various foreign markets.

In his remarks, Azharul Islam said there are bright prospects of exporting
mangoes worth around Taka 200 crore from the region, including its vast
Barind tract, during the current season as both acreage and yearly yield of
the delicious fruit have been rising gradually for the last couple of years.

Mangoes produced in Bagha and Charghat upazilas were exported to different
countries, including Europe, Middle East and Asia, during the last couple of
years. The delicious seasonal fruits will also be exported this year.