‘Khirshapat mango’ gains GI registration certificate

Khirsapat mango of Chapainawabganj, popularly known as Himsagar, received Geographical Indication (GI) tag as the third Bangladeshi product.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the GI certificate to Dr Md. Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) at a ceremony held at the Industries Ministry on Sunday, UNB reports.

Speaking on the occasion Minister Nurul Majid said, “Rajshahi is famous for mangoes for long. We thank those who conduct research on mangoes. The support of the government to mango related research and agro-based industrialization will continue. We have to go forward to achieve our goal.”

The GI recognition will benefit mango growers, traders and agro-based entrepreneurs, he hoped.  

“Our own products will spread across the world after fulfilling our demand. We have an opportunity to earn huge foreign exchange by processing delicious mangoes,” he said.

The Minister also said other traditional Bangladeshi products, including different varieties of mangoes, should also get registered as GI products soon.

He also instructed the Patents, Designs and Trademarks Directorate to issue GI certificate in favour of Chapaibnabganj’s ‘Ashwina’ and ‘Lengra’ mangoes.

State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumdar said the GI registration of Bangladeshi goods will bring goodwill for the country and boost demand of our products in the globe.

Dr Md Shafiqul Islam said 3500 metric tonnes Khirsapat mangoes were produced on  3400 acres  and in Chainawabgaj last year.

“We think that the farmers will become more keen to cultivate it after the certification. Our production will also increase in future for the branding,” he said.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute applied for GI certification for the mango variety in February last year on behalf of the growers of Chapainawabganj, one of the main mango-producing districts.

Khirshapat mangoes’ are the testiest mango of Chapainawabganj district which produced up to 20-25 percent of the total mango in the country each season. This variety is also on top of the mango export list. Meeting the demands of local markets, the variety is exported to many countries of Europe and the Middle East.

GI is a name or sign used on products to certify that it possesses certain qualities for being made or produced as per traditional methods or enjoys a certain reputation due to its geographical origin.

Earlier, Jamdani was certified as Bangladesh’s first GI product and Hilsha was certified as the second one.