He said that if safe mango production using scientific methods, modern preservation and improved marketing systems are developed, the country's mango export potential will increase manifold. At the same time, if the multi-dimensional use of mango can be ensured, farmers will get fair prices and it will be possible to make an important contribution to the country's economy.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the 'Seasonal Fruit Festival' organized on the university campus on Saturday (July 11) morning. The festival was organized at the University Press Club Convention Hall.
In a slide presentation titled 'Seasonal fruit mango, nature's sweet gift, pride of Chapai', the Vice-Chancellor said that the government declared the mango tree as the national tree in 2010. Currently, about 766,900 metric tons of mangoes are produced in the country and the yield per hectare has increased by 3.17 times. Of this, about 200,000 metric tons of mangoes are produced in Chapainawabganj alone, which is about 40 to 45 percent of the country's total production.
He said that establishing modern cold storage and Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) plant in Chapainawabganj is urgent for the interest of farmers. This will further increase the opportunity for export to the international market.
Dr. Shamim said that instead of being limited to selling only raw or ripe mangoes, its multi-faceted use must be ensured. It is possible to increase export earnings through the production of various value-added products including frozen mango, dry mango, mango oil, mango chocolate, lozenges, bakery products. He informed that there is also potential to produce edible oil from mango seed kernel through research.
Suggesting the use of plastic crates or baskets lined with cloth and paper instead of traditional bamboo baskets for transporting mangoes, he said this will maintain the quality of the fruit and increase exportability. He also emphasized on keeping mangoes sterile and GI (Geographical Indication) tagging.
At the event, presided over by Emran Hossain Tanim, President of Pabna University of Science and Technology Press Club, speeches were given by the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam and Director of the Student Advisory Office Professor Dr. Rashedul Haque.
At that time, Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr. Shamim Reza, Chairman of the Department of Business Administration Professor Dr. Kamruzzaman, Chairman of the Department of History Dr. Habibullah, Chairman of the Department of Bengali Mir Humayun Kabir, along with teachers, officials, leaders of social and cultural organizations and journalists from various departments were present.
