Mohammad Badrul Ahsan :
The government is going to adopt an export policy making contract farming and good agriculture practice (GAP) compulsory for the exporters with a view to comply with the rules and regulations of the European Union – a key export destination of the product, sources said.
They said quarantine rules and regulations of EU focuses on contract farming and thus to boost export of farm products.
Export of vegetables, fruits, potatoes, betel leafs and other farm produces is planned to be brought under the new export policy.
A high official at the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said at a recent policy making meeting at MoC decided to make contract farming and GAP mandatory for exporters, following the conditions imposed on export of farm produces.
For a dynamic marketing management, ‘farm to market cooling chain’ should also be established, he said, adding that the meeting requested the agriculture ministry to implement the decision.
As per the decision, the exporters will have to contract with the farmers and the farmers must adopt the GAP, initiated by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
He also said in the face of declining trend in export of farm produces the government has to initiate the move.
According to data available with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) , export of fruits, betel leafs and other farm produces declined substantially during last couple of years due to ban on import of some Bangladeshi products by EU.
Export of fruits dropped 47.5 per cent to over US$20 million in 2015-16 as compared to the previous fiscal year while cut flower and foliage declined 58 per cent to $ 11.4 million, and vegetables export remains stagnant at $104 million, the data showed.
Exporters, however, apprehended that a quick approach in introducing the contract farming would eventually undermine exports.
They sought more time to introduce contract farming, saying that it would take time to bring required number of farmers under contract.
The official said Russia imposed ban on potato import from Bangladesh as those could not meet the phytosanitary requirements set by the quarantine department of the country.
However, the exporters urged the government to adopt the policy gradually.
The government is going to adopt an export policy making contract farming and good agriculture practice (GAP) compulsory for the exporters with a view to comply with the rules and regulations of the European Union – a key export destination of the product, sources said.
They said quarantine rules and regulations of EU focuses on contract farming and thus to boost export of farm products.
Export of vegetables, fruits, potatoes, betel leafs and other farm produces is planned to be brought under the new export policy.
A high official at the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said at a recent policy making meeting at MoC decided to make contract farming and GAP mandatory for exporters, following the conditions imposed on export of farm produces.
For a dynamic marketing management, ‘farm to market cooling chain’ should also be established, he said, adding that the meeting requested the agriculture ministry to implement the decision.
As per the decision, the exporters will have to contract with the farmers and the farmers must adopt the GAP, initiated by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
He also said in the face of declining trend in export of farm produces the government has to initiate the move.
According to data available with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) , export of fruits, betel leafs and other farm produces declined substantially during last couple of years due to ban on import of some Bangladeshi products by EU.
Export of fruits dropped 47.5 per cent to over US$20 million in 2015-16 as compared to the previous fiscal year while cut flower and foliage declined 58 per cent to $ 11.4 million, and vegetables export remains stagnant at $104 million, the data showed.
Exporters, however, apprehended that a quick approach in introducing the contract farming would eventually undermine exports.
They sought more time to introduce contract farming, saying that it would take time to bring required number of farmers under contract.
The official said Russia imposed ban on potato import from Bangladesh as those could not meet the phytosanitary requirements set by the quarantine department of the country.
However, the exporters urged the government to adopt the policy gradually.
