Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Bangladesh has the potential to grab a major share of the global vegetable market, but lack of good farming practice, supply chain infrastructures and policy support remains a major challenge for exporters, insiders said.
They said, the country’s export turnover from vegetables shipments will increase significantly if the shortcomings were addressed with establishing effective cooperation among farmers, businesses and state agencies.
According to Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh earned $77.98 million from exporting fresh vegetables in the last fiscal year 2017-18 from US$81.03 million during the same period in the previous fiscal, showing 3.76 per cent year-on-year fall.
“Despite the fall, Bangladesh has great prospect in export of vegetables. But it remains largely untapped due to lack of good agricultural practice (GAP), plant quarantine, proper processing, preservation and logistics infrastructure,” SM Jahangir Hossain, President of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) told The New Nation recently.
He said, “We must improve in these critical areas to boost the export turnover as well as global market share. A good coordination with farmers, enterprises and government agencies is also necessary to reach out further to the global market.”
Vegetables, including tomato, carrot, bean, brinjal, potato, lady’s finger, cowpea and mushroom, are now exported to about 50 countries around the world. 60 per cent of the total quantity is exported to the Middle East and the remaining 40 per cent to European and other countries.
“Bangladesh produces 157 types of vegetables. Production of vegetables has increased five times in the past 40 years taking advantage of commercial farming along with adoption of modern technology. The vast production base offers Bangladesh a tremendous opportunity for exports,” Mansur Ahmed, General Secretary of BFVAPEA told The New Nation.
“But we have failed to penetrate global export market mainly due to lack of transport infrastructures to link the production pocket areas, collection centers and cold warehouses.”
Mansur Ahmed also said that plant quarantine and food safety are also impeding export of vegetables.
Both the BFVAPEA leaders have urged the government to improve supply chain infrastructures and adopt GAP in order to boost vegetable export. Necessary steps should also be taken to prevent post harvest losses.
“The government has planned to double agriculture production by 2030 identifying the agriculture sector as a potential area for export diversification. In line with the plan, it has already taken necessary steps to develop supply chain infrastructure for ago-products and initiated several integrated protects to reduce post-harvest losses,” Dr Md Abdur Rouf, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture told The New Nation.
He said, Bangladesh ranked third in global vegetable production, next to China and India, and the large production has created huge export opportunity.
“Increase in population has resulted in a large demand for vegetables products all over the globe. Being a large producer of vegetables, Bangladesh looks quite prospective to be able to supply this large demand. This will help increase exports from Bangladesh and control the large wastage of vegetables that takes place during firming season,” Dr Md Abdur Rouf.
When asked, he said, the government would provide necessary policy support to boost exports of vegetables and incorporate GAP to ensure export competitiveness.
