The western districts of Bengal – together called Paschimanchal – are gradually turning into a hub for the delicious mango, alphonso.
Alphonso has a big export market too. In this sense, a region of Bengal turning into an alphonso hub is a big boon for the State. The Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs Department is leading this effort.
Till now, Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra was the sole hub of the alphonso. Soon, Bankura will turn into another major hub, and Purulia and Jhargram too.
Three thousand saplings of alphonso were planted in three orchards in Khatra subdivision of Bankura district last year. The first commercial harvest has been done this year. Five thousand saplings were planted in Purulia and Jhargram districts.
The mangoes from Bankura have been analysed at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and have been found to be very similar in all aspects to the famous alphonsos of Maharashtra.
Source: Millennium Post