Mango to be a major source of foreign currency: Agriculture minister

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said mangoes will soon be one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings as the fruit is being produced in the country in advanced ways and following good agricultural practices.

"Mango exports have increased a lot this year. We are trying to diversify our export earnings instead of relying solely on garments. We will earn a huge amount of foreign currency by exporting various agricultural products, including mangoes and vegetables," said the minister while visiting mango orchards at Kendua of Nachol upazila in Chapainawabganj district.

He said in addition to fresh mangoes, various food items, including mango jelly and pulp, will also be exported.

The minister also said the government is working to construct mango storage houses and to avail low-interest loans for mango farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter, BARC Executive Chairman Sheikh Md Bakhtiar, Director General of The Department of Agricultural Extension Badal Chandra Biswas, Director General of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Debashish Sarkar, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir and various officials of the Agriculture Department were present on the occasion.