Untapped potential of mango

Our very familiar and favourite summer fruit, mango, has been put in a new light by highlighting its health benefits in recent media reports. People of this part of the world have been cultivating this fruit for at least 4,000 years. So, the people of Bangladesh hardly need to be reintroduced to this popular fruit. And they will eat this fruit no matter how many types of micronutrients, anti-oxidants, fibres, vitamins etc., it may or may not contain. But sometimes discovering some great qualities in an otherwise ordinary thing may increase its value to the public. One may recall how the commonplace amloki (botanical name, Phyllanthus emblica), also known in English as Indian gooseberry, became a much sought after medicinal fruit after late Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, when he was a famous practising physician, praised it (amloki) for its high vitamin-C content. Notably, Dr Chowdhury used to present a popular programme 'Apnar Doctor', on BTV where he popularised Amloki for its many medicinal properties. However, later he turned to politics and became president of Bangladesh (November 14,  2001- June 21, 2002) .

Be that as it may, mango is a different case altogether. Though it cannot be made more popular by singing its praises afresh, some people who earlier were not a great admirer of this fruit may now consider it positively given its health-giving attributes. A report, for instance, says that the vitamin B6 that mango contains improves mood, memory and cognitive function. It also helps manage stress and anxiety as it increases production of serotonin, the so-called 'feel good' chemical in the body that helps regulate many bodily functions, including mood, bowel movements and sleep. To the modern mental health conscious men and women, this is definitely good news. Also called the 'king of fruits', mango may now catch many young people's fancy who would otherwise avoid eating any kind of fruit whether indigenous or foreign.

But more than its health benefits, mango has also been used in the past as part of the so-called 'mango diplomacy' to improve diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries. Diplomacy apart, mango's potential  as a foreign currency earner through export is yet to be fully exploited. Though Bangladesh produces some best varieties of mango with their exquisite taste and smell in abundance, it is yet to  make its mark as a major mango exporting country with Mexico exporting more than 421,000 tonnes of mango every year. Other mango exporters include  Thailand, Brazil, Peru, Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Spain and Ecuador.

Obviously, mango's is a competitive international market and the government should keep this in mind while promoting its export overseas. 

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh produced over 23,50,000 metric tonnes of mango by bringing about 2,03,000 hectares of land under cultivation in FY21. In FY23, the production rose to over 27,00, 000 metric tonnes. However, in the FY24, the total production was over 25,00,000 metric tonnes. Compared to production, the export performance of mango cannot be said to have been very impressive so far. According to a report of this paper, some 3100 tonnes of mango were exported in FY23, but it fell to 1,321 tonnes in FY24. However, Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Project Director of the Exportable Mango Production Project (EMPP) under the DAE, reportedly told  the media that the government was going to export 4,000 tonnes of mango within the next three months and that meanwhile some 600 tonnes have been shipped to 25 countries. The largest destination of mango so exported is the United Kingdom (UK), or more particularly, England, the official further informed. Evidently, the main consumers of the exported mango are the members of Bengali diaspora in the UK. Last year, around 1,320 tonnes of mango were exported to 21 countries, it could be gathered. In terms of exported volumes, the major export destinations of Bangladeshi mango include the Middle Eastern countries, Europe, Canada in North America, Singapore and Hong Kong of Soitheast Asia and the Far East.

Bangladeshi mango also needs rebranding to unlock its full export potential.

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