Mango to be a major source of foreign currency

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, July 13 (UNB): Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Thursday said that mangoes will soon be one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings as safe mangoes are being produced in the country in advanced ways and following good agricultural practices.

"Mango exports have increased a lot this year. We are trying to diversify our export earnings instead of relying solely on garments. We will earn a huge amount of foreign currency by exporting various agricultural products including mangoes and vegetables," said the minister.

The minister said this while visiting the mango orchards and exchanging views with farmers at Kendua of Nachol upazila in Chapainawabganj district.

He said that in addition to fresh mangoes, various food items made from mango including mango jelly and pulp will also be exported.

The minister also said that the government is working to construct mango storage houses and to avail mango farmers for low-interest loans.

Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter, BARC Executive Chairman Sheikh Md Bakhtiar, Director General of The Department of Agricultural Extension Badal Chandra Biswas, Director General of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Debashish Sarkar, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir and various officials of the Agriculture Department were present on the occasion.