Mango needs processing plants for value-addition

RAJSHAHI, June 21 (BSS): For long, Rajshahi is nationwide famous, especially for its tasty and delicious fruit mango that attracts people from all over the country every summer.
Every year, acreage, number of trees and mango production is going up. However, unfortunately, not a single mango-processing plant has been established here since 44 years of country's independence, which is hindering expansion of mango market.
Officials of Department of Agriculture Extension said around 1,132 hectares of mango acreage, 3,27,197 trees and 7,538 tonnes yield were enhanced in the last five years in the district.
Quoting the office records they said there were 6,79,684 trees that yielded 1,02,950 tonnes of mango in 2007-08 harvesting season. Per hectare yield was 13.1 tonnes.
Whereas, in the previous 2014-15 season, the growers harvested around 1,10,488 tonnes from 10,06,881 trees in 8,986 hectares of land and per hectare yield was 12.29 tonnes.
Some varieties like Gopalbhog, Langra, Himsagar, Ranipasand, Fazli and Aswina are very much tasty and mouthwatering among around 100 others.
Mango grows almost everywhere in the district but Paba, Charghat and Bagha have long-lasting tradition of quality mango production.
As the growers are reaping bulks of money from the mango farming, it is encouraging many others towards farming mango resulting in escalation of acreage.
He said target has been set to produce around 0.11 million (1.10 lakh) tonnes this year. "Although, we are yielding huge mango every year no significant mango processing plants has been set up here as yet," he said.
Various processed food-items particularly juice, soft drink, pickles, jam and jelly can be manufactured through processing of mango. If processing plants are set up then this sector can contribute a lot to the region's economy as the processed foods have enormous demands besides high market values.
Mango is a perishable item. So, it needs immediate consumption or processing for its value addition. Besides, various natural calamities like storm, hailstorm, gusty wind, tornado and drought caused dropping out significant portion of produced mango.
But, the modern processing plant can make the dropped out green mango valued foods besides protecting those from getting damaged.
Meanwhile, construction work of two modern fruit- processing factories are progressing fast in the region with an ultimate goal of adding value to the agricultural products especially mango, tomato and potato.
A plant named Hashem Agro-processing Industry is being built on 40 bighas of land at Rishikul under Godagari upazila of the district with the initiative of Sazib Corporation setting target to manufacture mango pulp in the coming mango season.
 Another factory has been built by Vegan Group on 50 bighas of land at Rohanpur under Chapainawabganj district, where a pulping plant was also established.
With this venture, cold storage for both mango and tomato was built for the first time in the two districts.