Growers claim they hardly use chemicals on mangoes

Mango season knocks at the door. Throughout this season, mango will be like a national fruit. Planned mango orchards have been set up in hills, estates, chars, high and low-lying areas.

Millions of people are involved in mango production, processing and marketing. According to a report on global agriculture production by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the production rate of mangoes is the highest in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh started exporting mangoes last year. In terms of exporting mangoes, Bangladesh has a lot of advantages in the world market, according to FAO. For example, when mangoes in Bangladesh ripen, mangoes from other countries are not available in the world market. Besides, buyers of the UK consider Bangladeshi mangoes the best in the world. If Bangladesh can maintain international quality in production, exporting a thousand tonnes of mango per year is not impossible at all.

In 2015, the government set a date for mango harvesting. After hearing the news, I went to Rajshahi's Chapainawabganj. As I went from orchard to orchard, I heard from the farmers and traders that they are facing heavy loss due to this fixed date. Information varied in different areas. The Mango Research Institute (MRI) and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had their own standpoints. Overall, the whole situation is very confusing.

Everyone fears that a date will be set again. All their dreams and hopes will turn to ashes. A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to attend a farmers' meeting in Charghat's Pannapara of Rajshahi. There were almost 200 people there -- orchard owners and traders.

Farmers claimed that they do not use chemicals on the mangoes. "We don't even know what formalin is,” said a mango grower.

They don't want to experience such inconveniences this year. They say the government can test the mangoes. If there is any extra chemical, it won't be hard to find out what it is and where it came from. The government has a responsibility to protect public health and ensure food safety.

I learned that sometimes orchard owners or traders use ripening hormones after harvest. They use these under the advice of the DAE and local pesticide store owners. Experts say that limited use of these chemicals is not harmful to health.

Anyway, in a situation like this, nobody wants a date to be set to pick mangoes from trees. I talked with Dr Alim Uddin, chief scientific officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre. He says there should not be a fixed date for harvesting mangoes.

On my way back from Rajshahi, I talked about this issue with Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashrafuddin. I told him everything. I requested him to make sure that farmers don't face any inconvenience during the mango season.

Mahbub Siddique has been researching on mangoes for quite a while now. He wrote a book on mangoes as well. He has drawn up his own calendar, which shows when each type of mango should be collected from the trees. According to that calendar, Gobindabhog should be collected during May 15-May 30, Gopalbhog May 25-June 10, Khirsapat June 7- June 30, Himsagar June10-June 30, Bari-2 or Lokkhonbhog June 15-July 15, Lengra June 15-July 15, Amropali June 28-July 25, Mohonbhog July 8-July 30, Chosha July 10-August 10, Ashwina July 20-August 30, and Gobindobhog July 20-September 10.

This calendar is based on the experience of the farmers and the reality of mango orchards. Consumers will learn which mango will be available when. Orchard owners know these thoroughly. Having walked with farmers in their orchards for a long time, I saw that they talk with their crops, they also understand what their crops say.

Obviously, mango orchard owners, farmers or traders all talk to their orchards' mangoes as well and they understand what their mangoes say to them. I hope the government will give its utmost importance in this matter.