Speakers at a training programme recently laid emphasis on practicing of modern farming techniques and postharvest management for maximizing the immense potentiality of mango production in the region.

“Growers should be educated on using modern techniques and post-harvest management so that they could be benefited more,” said Komolaranjan Das, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, while addressing the opening session of a daylong farmers training here.

He said large-scale promotion of bio-rational pest management in mango farming has become crucial for boosting the mango production side by side with reducing toxic chemical pesticides and management of different insects and pest in mango in the region.

The chief guest mentioned that the field level fruit researchers and scientists should discharge their duties with highest sincerity and honesty for disseminating advantages of modern methods and technologies.

Fruit Research Station (FRS) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organized the training titled “Modern Techniques and Postharvest Management in Mango Production” at its conference hall.

Chaired by FRS Principal Scientific Officer Dr Alim Uddin, the session was addressed, among others, by BARI Director (Research) Dr Abdul Wahab, Director General of Bangladesh Sugar Crop Research Institute Dr Amzad Hossain and its Director (Research) Dr Samajit Kumar Paul, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division of BARI Dr Ayub Hossain and Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Shamsul Haque.

Komolaranjan Das urged the farmers to follow the guideline of the field level agricultural officials and scientists during mango farming.

Using chemical pesticides on farm lands is always harmful to soil and public health, crops and environment. So, it is urgent for promoting bio-rational pest management widely.

He said BARI has developed a number of bio-rational-based integrated pest management technologies of mango and has been expanding those to farmers level through various training and motivational programmes.