Call for promoting modern tech in mango farming

RAJSHAHI, Mar 31 (BSS): State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP, urged the farmers and others concerned to maintain best practices from nursing to harvesting of mango for the sake of making the cash crop hygienic.

He mentioned ensuring best practices in the mango

production and marketing can be the effective means of enriching the country's export list. Emphasis should be

given to promoting modern technologies including fruit bagging, he said.

The state minister was addressing a seminar styled "Mango Production, Harvesting, Preservation and Export through Good Agriculture Practice" at Charghat upazila council conference hall in the district on Friday as the chief guest.

The upazila administration organised the seminar in association with the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation. Some 35 mango growers, traders and other stakeholders took part in the seminar.

Chaired by upazila nirbahi officer Ashraful Islam, the meeting was addressed, among others, by SME Consultant Dr Saleh Ahmed, Engineer Md Khalequzzaman, director of Mango Research Centre Dr Halim Reza, upazila agriculture officer Abu Jafar Sadeque and Sardaha union council Chairman Hasanuzzaman Madhu.

Shahriar Alam 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.

There is no alternative to use fruit-bagging technology to earn foreign currency through mango exporting, he said. He urged the authorities and officials concerned to put in their collective efforts to uphold the success in the days ahead.