A farmer collecting mangoes from an orchard at Budhpara in Rajshahi city as harvesting of the summer fruit started on Wednesday — FE Photo RAJSHAHI, May 16: Harvesting, storage and marketing of mangoes started in Rajshahi on Wednesday following the 'Mango Calendar' introduced by the Deputy Commissioner's Office.
Amid a festive ambiance, farmers and traders started plucking mangoes in Rajshahi city and surrounding areas in the morning according to the calendar that is to begin on May 15 (first day of the Bangla month of Joishtha).
As the harvesting period has just started, markets in the district have witnessed arrival of the Guti variety mangoes only.
Earlier on May 12, the 'Mango Calendar' was released at a meeting organised by the Rajshahi district administration determining the time for mango collection, transportation, marketing and market monitoring.
As per the calendar, harvesting of the Guti variety mangoes is to start on May 15 and that of Gopalbhog, Laxmanbhog, Lakhna and Ranipchand varieties on May 25 while plucking of Himsagar and Khirsapat variety mangoes is to start on May 30, Lengra and Banana varieties on June 10 and Amrapali and Fazli varieties on June 15.
Collecting of Ashwina variety mangoes will start on July 10, Gaurmati on July 15 and Ilamati variety mangoes on August 20. Besides, Katimon and Barium-11 species of mangoes can be collected throughout the year.
On Wednesday morning, visiting different neighbourhoods including Jinnah Nagar, Kukandi and Budhpara and various places in other upazilas of the district, this correspondent found farmers and traders collecting mangoes from orchards.
They said that the small variety mangoes have not yet started ripening in the gardens. That is why mango collection started at the stipulated time but they did not pluck so many mangoes.
Traders were happy to get a small quantity of mangoes at a fair price.
Besides, the farmers and traders expect the prices to be high this season as the yield is low due to prolonged heat and drought in the current season.
Gardener Anwarul Haque of Jinnah Nagar area of Rajshahi city said that according to the calendar introduced by the district administration, relatively small mangoes were being harvested from the trees on the first day.
With this, they have started the current year's mango collection thought all mangoes have not ripened yet; so the rest of the mangoes will be brought down step by step.
Mr Anwarul Haque also said that during the current season, mangoes became dry in the intense heat and got a black colour. Besides, mangoes fell off due to insect attack reducing the yield and eventually price of the fruit will be high.
Razib Hossain, a farmer of Baneswar area of Rajshahi, said that Guti-type mangoes are usually used for pickling.
"I will sell a small number of mangoes. These mangoes will be sold for at least Tk1,200 to Tk1,400 per maund. Last time I sold these mangoes for Tk600 to Tk800 per maund," he added.
Meanwhile, Baneswar Haat, the main market for mangoes, is still empty of mangoes even though harvesting has started.
The market has to wait at least until May 25 as mangoes are yet to get fully mature, nor have been all the mangoes plucked from the orchards. Apart from this, sweet and juicy variety mangoes will be brought down from May 25.
Umme Salma, deputy director (acting) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rajshahi, said marketing of mangoes produced in Rajshahi this season started on Wednesday.
Different varieties of mangoes will be harvested in subsequent stages and ripe mangoes will be marketed by farmers and traders as per the mango calendar.
According to the DAE, mango plantations covered only 19,602 hectares of land in Rajshahi district this year, which is 24 hectares more than that of the last year. The mango production target in the district this year was set at 2,60,165 tonnes.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
