RAJSHAHI, May 15 (BSS): Juicy and delicious fruit Mango has started appearing in the markets of Rajshahi city and its adjacent areas from today as its harvesting began from this morning abiding by the instruction of local administration.
A ban on mango harvesting and marketing had been imposed in the district till May 14 to give optimum time for natural ripening of the delicious seasonal fruit.
District administration had taken the decision to prevent adulteration in mango ripening process using harmful chemicals.
According to the decision, the farmers can pluck indigenous varieties from May 15, Gopalbogh from May 20, Khirshapat from May 28, Lakhna from May 25, Langra from June 5, Amropaly from June 16, Fazly and Surma Fazly from June 16 and Ashwina from July 1.
Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), told BSS that most of the mangoes will become matured and ripen within the stipulated time and then those could be harvested normally.
He 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.
District administration is closely monitoring the harvesting of mangoes in addition to extending all necessary facilities to farmers and traders for harvesting and marketing of the seasonal fruits.
Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader urged all concerned to follow the time-frame of mango harvesting for the sake of public interests.
Officials said mango has been cultivated on 26,150 hectares of areas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts where it's expected to yield 2,44,000 tonnes mangoes this year.
Mango groves were also nurtured on 12,671 hectares of land in Naogaon district where target was fixed to produce 1,61,242 tonnes of mangoes while in Natore district is expected to produce 56,021 tonnes of mangoes on 4,823 hectares of land.