The official mango harvesting season began in Natore on Friday in line with the schedule set by the district administration, with growers starting to collect early-season varieties from orchards across the district.
The harvesting of Guti variety mangoes formally began in the morning, with leaseholders plucking naturally ripened Baishakhi mangoes from government orchards in the Bhaturia area of Sadar upazila.
Harvesting and marketing activities were also underway in different mango-producing areas of the district.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expects around 68,316 tonnes of mangoes worth nearly Tk 400 crore to be produced this season from 5,693 hectares of orchards across the district.
Md Habibul Islam Khan, deputy director of the district DAE, said Natore has already secured its position as the fourth-largest mango-producing district in northern Bangladesh.
He said the district’s renowned Tamaltala and Ahmadpur mango markets witness transactions worth crores of taka every day during the peak season, attracting traders from Dhaka and different parts of the country.
Traders collect a wide range of sweet and popular mango varieties from these wholesale markets for distribution nationwide, he added.
According to agriculture officials, mango harvesting, trading and marketing activities in Natore are expected to continue until October.