Mango preservation device invented by BARI scientists

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute scientists (BARI) have invented a new device which can decontaminate mangoes and preserve them for a long time.

The device named 'Hot Water Treatment', which has been shown to mango growers at the Regional Horticulture Research Institute recently, can decontaminate the mangoes from bacterial infection simply treating them through hot water.

Chief scientific official Zamir Uddin said that BARI’s engineering wing invented the machine many years ago.

"It was big in size then. The updated version is small in size and easy to transport," he added.

Once the mangoes are kept for five minutes inside the machine under temperature 55 degree centigrade, will be cleaned off harmful bacteria and grow more natural preservation capacity.

The BARI scientists demonstrated the machine in a bid to show mango farmers how it works at a programme on 22 June.

"The way we pick mangos from trees are unscientific. The viscous essence that spills from mangoes contains Malic Acid. The acid helps mangoes get rotten quicker. This is called mango’s ‘nasal anthrax’" said Kamala Ranjan Das, additional secretary of agriculture ministry, while speaking as chief guest at the programme.

"Also, ‘fruit flies’ attack mangoes egging on them and that later turned into pests and eat up mangos," he added.

"Once the mangos are treated through the machine, it destroys the harmful pests and saves mangoes from bacterial infection," he explained.