A geographical indicator (GI) tag has been granted to the Khirsapat mango, popularly known as Himsagar, in a development expected to open up branding opportunities for local Bangladesh growers.
Growers in the Chapai Nawabganj region in the north-western part of Bangladesh can expect the new GI to help strengthen the mango industry, according to the country’s industries minister, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun. It is the third product, joining Bangladesh’s national fish and popular textile.
“This will widen the opportunity for branding Bangladesh,” said Humayun at the GI certificate handover ceremony.
The Chapai Nawabganj region is the largest producer of Himsagar mango, and the second most grown variety after Ashwina.
The Daily Star reported that increasing amounts of land are being brought under mango cultivation, with farmers showing interest in commercial cultivation to meet growing domestic demand and cater to export markets.
An official from the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) said farmers will be able to utilise the GI tag by 2020, and if all procedures are completed swiftly the tag could be available as soon as this summer.
The Himsagar mango’s season runs between mid-April and mid-June and as of 2017, 41,680ha were under cultivation according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Mango farmers will have to complete the necessary procedure to become authorised users of the GI tag which will comprise the logo of the DPDT as well as a logo to be developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.
India currently also holds GI status for the Himsagar mango as a product of West Bengal.
