Naogaon Correspondent:

As mango harvesting is going to begin in the district from May 22, the growers expect that the sales of the summer fruit in the district may exceed over Taka 3,500 crore this year as over 30,300 hectares of land were brought under mango cultivation here, official sources said here on Monday.

“The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a target for producing 366,000 metric tons of mango in the district and the market price of the mango is expected to vary from Taka 3500 crore to Taka 4000 crore,” the officials sources added.

The district administration in a meeting with the mango growers, traders, agriculture officers and other officials of the administration today fixed May 22 for starting the harvesting and selling of mango in the district.

After the meeting, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Naogaon Mohammad Abdul Awal announced the timetable for harvesting the mango from the gardens.

The marketing of ‘Guti Aam, a local variety, will begin on May 22 but the people have to wait for few more days to get the delicious and sweet mangoes, the meeting sources said.

The other varieties of mango like ‘Gopal Bhog’, Khirsapat and Himsagor , Nak Fazly, Langra and Hari Bhanga, Fazly, Aam Rupali, Banana Mango and Arshina, BARI-4, Gourmoti and Katimon will come to the markets on May 28, June 2, June 5, June 10, June 25, June 18, June 25 and July 10 respectively.

The DC while presiding over the meeting said that nearly 60 percent of the total mango is Aam Rupali that is most delicious and attractive all over the country. The district administration will not allow harvesting and marketing of green mango by anybody before the timetable, he said, adding that the district administration and the agricultural department may reschedule the harvesting of mangoes based on weather if necessary.

Deputy Director (DD) of the DAE Abul Kalam Azad said that they have conducted massive campaign for harvesting the mangoes as per the announced timetable. The timetable has been made for ensuring the supply of chemical free ripe mangoes to the consumers, the DD said, adding that his department along with administration has been trying to ensure the export of chemical free mango abroad.