Mohammed Badrul Ahsan :
Contract farming of mango is likely to be compulsory for the exporters to ensure a safe and hygienic shipment of the fruit as per the conditions imposed by the EU recently, said a draft of ‘National Mango Action Plan.’
The action plan has made it compulsory for the exporters to make shipment of mango only from their contract farms which will produce fruit following the action plan.
The draft of the ‘Bangladesh National Action Plan (2016) for Pest Free and Safe Mango Production for Domestic Consumption and Export Promotion’ has been finalised and is waiting for approval by the agriculture minister, said an official at the ministry of agriculture (MoA).
He said following declining trend of mango exports for last two years, the government, with the help of local experts, businesses and non-government organisations, has prepared the draft plan.
Mangoes of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Kushtia, Khagrachari and Rangamati, Banderban have been suggested to be exported.
Modern progressive and large farmers, having at least 30 decimals of land, will be selected for contract farming by the concerned stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture Extension, exporters and other entities.
The contract farmers’ list has to be sent to the director, Plant Quarantine Wing under DAE for approval, the official informed The New Nation.
However, the action plan has given priority to capacity building of relevant stakeholders including farmers, frontline staff, buyers, exporters, service providers and traders.
Support for farmers, orchard management, pest and disease control, weeding, cleaning and disposal of crop residues and waste, drop fruits etc have to follow modern scientific methods as per the plan.
Treasurer of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) Md Iqtadul Hoque told The New Nation that only 300 tonnes of mango were exported this year which was 750 tonnes last year.
He said shipment of the fruit has been witnessing a decline for last two years.
He said apart from quarantine rules, many of the consignments were intercepted due to compulsory requirements of contract farming.
Dr Mohammad Ali, Director, Strengthening Phytosanitary Capacity in Bangladesh Project under DAE told The New Nation that major destination for Bangladeshi mango is European Union and Middle East.
EU ‘phytosanitary’ requirements especially focus on contract farming, he pointed out.
With the implementation of the Mango Action Plan, shipment of Bangladeshi mango varieties will be boosted to the EU and other countries, he said.
However, Holland-based international Ngo Solidaridad Network Asia has helped the government in preparing the draft of the mango action plan.
Supermarket and Distribution Specialist of Solidaridad Mohammad Moziball Hoque said hygiene, safety and workers’ welfare issues, pre- harvest activities, harvest process and procedures, post-harvest and environmental management have been included in the plan.
Record keeping, inspection, monitoring and certification, necessary business documentation, regular mango garden visits by experts, researchers and regulatory department and even social Issues related to mango production and marketing have been discussed in the plan which will help local exporters to export most safe and hygienic mango to the global markets. boosted to the EU and other countries
Export of agricultural produces was almost static in the last fiscal year (FY’16) at US$ 596 million compared to that of FY’15, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Overall fruit export declined by 48 per cent to $ 20.23 million in FY’16 than that of its previous fiscal amid drastic plunge in mango export.
Contract farming of mango is likely to be compulsory for the exporters to ensure a safe and hygienic shipment of the fruit as per the conditions imposed by the EU recently, said a draft of ‘National Mango Action Plan.’
The action plan has made it compulsory for the exporters to make shipment of mango only from their contract farms which will produce fruit following the action plan.
The draft of the ‘Bangladesh National Action Plan (2016) for Pest Free and Safe Mango Production for Domestic Consumption and Export Promotion’ has been finalised and is waiting for approval by the agriculture minister, said an official at the ministry of agriculture (MoA).
He said following declining trend of mango exports for last two years, the government, with the help of local experts, businesses and non-government organisations, has prepared the draft plan.
Mangoes of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Kushtia, Khagrachari and Rangamati, Banderban have been suggested to be exported.
Modern progressive and large farmers, having at least 30 decimals of land, will be selected for contract farming by the concerned stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture Extension, exporters and other entities.
The contract farmers’ list has to be sent to the director, Plant Quarantine Wing under DAE for approval, the official informed The New Nation.
However, the action plan has given priority to capacity building of relevant stakeholders including farmers, frontline staff, buyers, exporters, service providers and traders.
Support for farmers, orchard management, pest and disease control, weeding, cleaning and disposal of crop residues and waste, drop fruits etc have to follow modern scientific methods as per the plan.
Treasurer of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) Md Iqtadul Hoque told The New Nation that only 300 tonnes of mango were exported this year which was 750 tonnes last year.
He said shipment of the fruit has been witnessing a decline for last two years.
He said apart from quarantine rules, many of the consignments were intercepted due to compulsory requirements of contract farming.
Dr Mohammad Ali, Director, Strengthening Phytosanitary Capacity in Bangladesh Project under DAE told The New Nation that major destination for Bangladeshi mango is European Union and Middle East.
EU ‘phytosanitary’ requirements especially focus on contract farming, he pointed out.
With the implementation of the Mango Action Plan, shipment of Bangladeshi mango varieties will be boosted to the EU and other countries, he said.
However, Holland-based international Ngo Solidaridad Network Asia has helped the government in preparing the draft of the mango action plan.
Supermarket and Distribution Specialist of Solidaridad Mohammad Moziball Hoque said hygiene, safety and workers’ welfare issues, pre- harvest activities, harvest process and procedures, post-harvest and environmental management have been included in the plan.
Record keeping, inspection, monitoring and certification, necessary business documentation, regular mango garden visits by experts, researchers and regulatory department and even social Issues related to mango production and marketing have been discussed in the plan which will help local exporters to export most safe and hygienic mango to the global markets. boosted to the EU and other countries
Export of agricultural produces was almost static in the last fiscal year (FY’16) at US$ 596 million compared to that of FY’15, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Overall fruit export declined by 48 per cent to $ 20.23 million in FY’16 than that of its previous fiscal amid drastic plunge in mango export.
