Mango starts arriving in Rajshahi markets. Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, May 15, 2025 (BSS) - Like the previous years, some of the indigenous varieties of mangoes have been arriving in the local markets as farmers are harvesting the seasonal juicy fruits from this morning following instructions of the local administration.
 
The District Administration in a meeting held here recently has fixed the date of harvesting, transporting and marketing of mangoes and their market monitoring.

In the meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Afia Akhter has announced the mango calendar aimed at ensuring safe, poison-free and ripened mango in the markets.
 
Farmers can harvest the local and indigenous varieties of mangoes from today, while Gopalbhog, Ranipachhand and Lakhna from May 25 and Himsagar or Khirshapat from May 30 respectively.
 
They can also harvest Langra from June 10, Amropali and Fazly from June 15, BARI-4 from July 5, Ashwina from July 10, Gourmati from July 15 and Ilamati from August 20.
 
Umme Shalma, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) told BSS that most of the mangoes will mature and ripen within the stipulated time and then those could be harvested normally.
 
She said some of the indigenous varieties of mangoes have already ripened. But the other delicious and famous varieties- -Gopalbhog, Khirshapat and Langra-- need some more days to be ripened.

In addition to the conventional and makeshift markets, many people have started vending mangoes in communities and localities.
 
District administration is closely monitoring the harvesting of mangoes in addition to extending all necessary facilities to the farmers and traders for harvesting and marketing of the seasonal fruits.
 
Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhter urged all concerned to follow the time-frame of mango harvesting for the sake of public interests.

She said executive magistrates are monitoring the orchards and markets to make sure harmful chemicals are not sprayed on mangoes.

Within the next couple of weeks, mango trading is expected to gain momentum in different markets of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts with the appearance of delicious varieties of the mouth watering seasonal fruit.
 
The markets famous for mango business including Baneswar, Shaheb Bazar, Haragram, Upashahar, Shalbagan, Rajabari, Godagari, Kansat and Rohanpur will get an eye-catching look.
 
'Gopal Bhog', one of the delicious mango varieties, will appear, while the farmers and traders will also harvest some other varieties following the instruction of local administration.
 
The sweetest varieties of mango - like Khirsapat and Himsagar - will come to the markets abundantly, while Lengra is also available followed by Fazli, Amrapali, Ashwina and BARI Mango-4.

The latest Official data said mangoes have been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of land in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts where it is expected to yield 2,44,000 tonnes of mangoes this year.
 
Mango groves were also nurtured on 12,671 hectares of land in Naogaon district where the target was fixed to produce 1,61,242 tonnes of mangoes while Natore district is expected to produce 56,021 tonnes on 4,823 hectares of land.

Monimul Haque, a farmer in Duary village under Paba Upazila, has 20 trees of the early variety. "Twelve of those have borne fruit," he says.
 
He already harvested some five maunds of Guti, and from next week, he will start picking up a type of Guti called Dudheshwar next week.

Meanwhile, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts, nationwide famous for mango production, have set the target to export 300 tonnes of mango to different European and Middle Eastern countries during the current harvesting season.
 
To achieve the target, mangoes are being fruit bagged after the best use of modern technologies in the two districts at present. Apart from this, the best quality mangoes are being produced for export to foreign countries.
 
President of Rajshahi Agro Food Producer Society Anwarul Haque said mangoes produced in Rajshahi have been exported to various European and many other countries for the last couple of years, which is good news for Rajshahi people.
 
He also said mango farming in the fruit-bagging method has gradually been rising here for the last couple of years. If the mango is cultivated through this method there is no need to use pesticide to prevent fruit-fly. As a result, mango remained in poison-free condition.
 
He said many farmers and value chain actors got the necessary training on best agricultural practices and with that, they started exploring the high-value export markets.
 
Mango export is almost double profitable than that of selling in local markets. But additional cost and care is needed for preparing the exportable mango as it requires use of modern technologies.