District Correspondent
Rangpur: After the traditional Shataranji, now the famous potted mango has got the recognition of Geographical Indication-GI product. Farmers, entrepreneurs and people of all walks of life are happy with such news.
Rangpur District Commissioner Mohammad Mobashwer Ahmed confirmed this information.
Earlier, Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun gave the recognition on Thursday afternoon.
In the meantime, potted mangoes have now spread across the country. The people of this region are proud of it. Due to other characteristics, Bangladesh government sent this mango as a gift to the heads of state of India, Britain, Turkey and America last year.
Garden owners and farmers said that mango as a fruit is a profitable seasonal business and the number of mango orchards is increasing every year. Unmatched in taste and smell, the potted mango has changed the life of the farmers. This mango has been a boon for the economy of Rangpur. The demand for this non-poisonous and delicious fiberless mango is increasing day by day. The production of this mango is increasing due to good yield for several years.
Along with the potted mango farmers, young people are also dreaming of doing business as entrepreneurs. Seasonal traders rush to see the buds on mango trees. Some of the traders from far and wide have started early contact with the mango farmers.
Obaidur Rahman Mondal, additional director of Rangpur Agricultural Extension Department regional office, said that potted mangoes have been cultivated in Rangpur in 1,925 hectares, which is slightly more than last year. Last year it was 1 thousand 887 hectares of land. Agriculture department hopes to produce 20-22 metric tons per hectare.
Noting that if the nature is not adverse, there is a possibility of more mango yield this time, he said, the agriculture department is advising the farmers to take care of the mango trees.
This official of the Agriculture Department said that this year it will be possible to export these mangoes abroad after meeting the demand of the country like last season. Mangoes are likely to be sold this year more than last year. These mangoes will be available in the market in mid-June.
History of potted mangoes
The journey of pulpless, sweet and delicious potted mangoes started from Tekani village of Rangpur’s Mithapukur upazila. A few lakhs of mango trees have now grown from a tree graft planted in this village. Changed the fate of people around. The scenery of the village has also changed. Handibhanga has become the ‘brand’ of Rangpur. But in the beginning, the name of this mango was Maldia, not Handibhanga. Amjad Hossain Paykar, a resident of Tekani village, told the story of Maldia mango becoming a pot. Known as a tree lover in the area, his father Nafal Uddin Paika planted the potted mango mother tree.
Amjad Hossain Paikar said that in 1949, his father Nafal Uddin brought a mango seedling to Bharpur village in Mithapukur’s tall sandy bush-forest. Then its name was Maldia. Earthen pots were tied to the mango tree and water was given by making a filter. One night someone broke the earthen pot. But the tree bears a large quantity of mangoes. They were very tasty. When taken to the market for sale, people want to know about that mango. Then Nafal Uddin told the people that the pot planted on the tree that people broke, these are the mangoes of the broken pot. Since then the mango of that tree is known as ‘Handibhanga’.
He said, since then, since it is delicious and sweet, the urge to graft the pair fell from that mother tree. The people of the area started planting with a pair of pens. The garden began to develop. After the death of Nafal Uddin Paikar, people came to the potted mango mother tree and started grafting so much that the branches of the tree started to fall. Then in the 1980s, people came down to build mango orchards by grafting trees commercially.
For sustainable economy, since the beginning, the mango farmers have been demanding the establishment of cold storage for the storage of potted mangoes, the implementation of modern mango cultivation methods, the establishment of research centers, and the declaration of potted mangoes as a GI product. Those concerned think that the economy of this region will be more active around Haribhanga if the government gives a good look.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Mobaswer Hasan said, ‘Handibhanga has become a blessing in the economy of the north. Every year there is a bumper crop of potted mangoes.’
Sarabangla/AK
Tags: Rangpurs potted mango recognition product
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