Some 50 metric tonnes of mango of different varieties was exported to Europe on till Monday, authorities said. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 50 metric tonnes of mangoes of Himsagar and Gobindobhog varieties are exported in the market of European countries including England, Sweden and Italy. Later, Lengra and Amrapali varieties will be exported in phases. Mango harvest in Natore begins today with Gopalbhog variety This year, the local administration has set a target to export 300 metric tonnes of mango and training was given to the mango growers in Kalaroa, Sadar and Debhata upazilas. But this year, the size of mango is not appropriate due to low yield of mango in Satkhira caused by the cyclonic storm Remal and drought, which is feared to achieve the export target this season. Saiful Islam, deputy director of Satkhira DAE, said this year the mango of Satkhira failed to achieve the standard export quality as spots were found in mangoes. Besides, the size of mango is not up to the mark. As a result, it will be difficult to fulfill the target set by the authorities. Special mango rail to start operation on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route June 10 Rafiqul Islam, a mango grower of Bakal area, said he has 25 bighas of land under mango cultivation. He however, managed to export four metric tonnes of Gobindobhog variety and two metric tonnes of Himsagar variety mango to the European countries. Besides, the price of the exported mango is better than the previous year as he is selling per maund of mango at Tk 3200-3400, which was Tk 2400-2500 in the last year. Satkhira started to export mango in European countries and the Middle East in 2015. Read more: Naogaon district sets ambitious Tk 2500 crore target for mango sales

The Rajshahi district administration fixed May 15 to begin mango harvest this year with the Guti variety. The harvest date for harvesting Gopalbhog has been fixed from May 20; Ranipasand and Laxmanbhog from May 25; Khirsapat or Himsagar from May 28; Lengra from June 6; Amrapali, Fazli and Surma Fazli from June 15; and Ashwina and Ashwina-4 varieties from July 10. A meeting at the DC office decided on the dates on Thursday. Read Chapainawabganj mango growers pin hope on weather Strict action will be taken against harvesting unripe mangoes. The administration and police will monitor the harvesting procedures strictly. However, due to the change in weather, if mango ripens in any area before the stipulated time, farmers will be able to harvest them after informing the concerned upazila administration. Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Jalil said that the harvesting of unripe mangoes was stopped in the last few years by fixing the date of harvest. Read Mango collection to start in Natore from May 20 "Besides, we’ve managed to convince our customers that no chemicals are used to ripen mangoes in Rajshahi," he said. On the other hand, unripe mangoes are falling down from the trees due to continuous heatwaves sweeping across the district. While talking to UNB, many farmers expressed concerns about not achieving the expected yield this year. Read Drought dashes dreams of litchi growers in Kushtia However, the agriculture department has assured that although surplus production might not be achievable this year, there is no doubt about reaching the target.