The commercial harvest of mangoes in Rajshahi has begun on the first day of the Bengali month of Jaishtha.
Following the "Mango Calendar" set by the district administration, growers and traders started picking the Guti (local) variety on the season's opening day on Friday.
Orchard owners expressed satisfaction with the start of the harvest, noting that favourable weather conditions this year have resulted in a bountiful yield.
To ensure consumers receive mature and chemical-free fruit, the local administration has mandated a staggered harvesting schedule for different varieties.
Authorities have set dates for the start of harvesting different varieties of mangoes.
The start days for harvest are as follows: Guti on May 15, Gopalbhog on May 22, Laxmanbhog and Ranipasand on May 25, Himsagar (Khirsapat) on May 30, Langra on Jun 10, Amrapali and Fazli on Jun 15, Ashwina and Bari-4 on Jul 5, Gourmati on Jul 15, and Ilamati on Aug 20.
While the harvest has started on a limited scale, it is expected to hit full momentum within a few days as more orchards begin operations.
Papiya Rahman Mouri, additional deputy director of the Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension, said mangoes have been cultivated across 19,062 hectares of land in the district this year.
"We have set a production target of 243,995 tonnes, with an estimated market value of Tk 7.80 billion," she said.
The administration has intensified monitoring to prevent the use of harmful ripening chemicals and to stop the premature marketing of the fruit.
Officials emphasised that the strict adherence to the calendar will guarantee that only naturally ripened mangoes reach consumers nationwide. �"bdnews24
