Bagha, Rajshahi, May 04 (V7N) – Unscrupulous traders in Bagha, Rajshahi, have reportedly begun harvesting mangoes prematurely, prompting intervention from the local administration. Authorities have seized quantities of these unripe mangoes in the public interest.

For several years, a "Mango Calendar" has been published in the region to ensure the availability of safe, chemical-free, and ripe mangoes according to a set schedule. This calendar is developed through discussions with agricultural officials, mango farmers, traders, and transportation stakeholders.

This year, despite the impending release of the "Mango Calendar," some traders have started picking mangoes ahead of the designated dates. Last year, the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi finalized the mango harvesting schedule in the second week of May.

The "Mango Calendar" for this year (as per last year's schedule, as this year's has not been published yet in this report) outlines the following picking dates for various mango varieties in Rajshahi:

May 15: Various varieties
May 25: Gopalbhog or Ranipachand
May 30: Lakhnabhog or Lakhna, and Himsagar or Khirsapat
June 10: Langra and Banana mangoes
June 15: Amrapali and Fazli
July 5: Bari-4 mangoes
July 10: Ashwina
July 15: Gaurmati
August 20: Ilamati
Throughout the year: Kartimon and Bari-11
In the past, all mango growers and traders were instructed to adhere to this schedule, with warnings of legal action for non-compliance. Exceptions were made for farmers whose mangoes ripened early, provided they informed the local administration and agricultural officials. Additionally, a hotline was established to report the use of chemicals on mangoes.

Local sources suggest that some traders are attempting to market unripe mangoes early to capitalize on potentially higher prices. Other traders claim that mangoes are falling prematurely due to weather conditions, forcing them to purchase them.

Shafiullah Sultan, the Upazila Agriculture Officer, stated that mangoes have been cultivated on 8,500 hectares of land this year, slightly less than the 8,570 hectares of the previous year. The expected production for the upazila this year is around 100,000 metric tons.

Upazila Executive Officer Shammi Akhter reported that following information about premature harvesting, the Anisur warehouse in the Chandipur area was raided on Tuesday, and 200 kilograms of unripe mangoes were seized. Instead of immediate legal action, these mangoes were distributed among madrasa students in the public interest. However, the UNO warned that the campaign against marketing unripe mangoes will continue and be intensified.

END/RAR/RH/