The Regional Horticulture Centre (mango research centre) in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj has successfully grown a new variety of mango, called Mehedi Mango-2.
According to Md Aminul Islam, deputy director of Kashiani Horticulture Centre, the Ministry of Agriculture adopted the “Year-Round Fruit Production for Nutrition Improvement” plan, which aims to make fruits available all year round so that the nutritional demands of the population are met.
Dr Mehedi Masud, director of the project, went to Indonesia a year and a half ago and brought back a stem of the mango plant.
"He gave the stem to me and I developed it at the centre. The tree flowered in April and mangoes ripened in October. The mango variety initially has been named after Dr Mehedi Masud. " said Aminul Islam.
Describing the speciality of the mango variety, he said each mango is estimated to weigh 500 gm. The mango is fibreless and the flesh is red and yellow when ripe. Every kg is expected to sell at around Tk 200, he said.
This unique variety will give mangoes twice a year. After collecting mangoes from the tree in October, the Mehedi 2 variety will flower again in November-December. And the mangoes can be harvested in March and April. It is possible to get 2 to 3 maunds of mangoes a year from a five year-old-tree, the deputy director said.
The new variety yields more than the other varieties in the country. This mango will meet the nutritional needs of a large population of the country. Therefore, there is an immense potential for commercial cultivation of the variety in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, agriculturist Md Aminul Islam, said: "We are trying to increase mango production in various districts, including Gopalganj, by producing saplings of various fruits, including mangoes, at the horticulture centre. A very large segment of the population of the district will be able to meet their nutritional demands from fruits in the coming days."
"Besides, we are working to expand the cultivation of Mehedi-1, Mehedi-2, Gourmoti, Taiwan Green, Banana, Totapuri, Haribhang and Surmai varieties in the country." he added.
