Economic Reporter :
Agriculture minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque has said seasonal food traders and others concerned should be able to transport their goods unhindered so that they do not face loss and become reluctant in fruit farming.
The minister said this on Saturday at an online view exchange meeting on marketing seasonal fruits and agricultural products amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Farmers have already started harvesting seasonal fruits such as mango, litchi, pineapple, jackfruit, etc. If they cannot market the fruits properly, they will face loss and lose their interest in fruit farming. Moreover, people will be deprived of the seasonal fruits which are essential for building immunity in the time of Covid-19,” said Abdur Razzaque.
He said Covid-19 made a negative impact on other agriculture products too, and marketing those was one of the greatest challenges at present. Many farmers already faced loss as they could not send their products for lack of transport, and their vegetables often rotted in the field. Transportation cost also doubled as the trucks returned empty, he added.
Most of the watermelon farmers could not sell their fruits, while those who sold, did not get a good price, he said further.
Former agriculture minister Begum Matia Chowdhury suggested that the government should subsidise truck fare.
“If police barrack, army barrack, hospital, prison, and other government offices buy mangoes from farmers, there will be no problem in marketing and the farmers will get the right price,” she suggested.
Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder recommended issuing separate ID cards for businesspeople, warehouse owners and middlemen so that they could transport their goods in time.
He also suggested extending banking hour for them too.
“We can limit the import of foreign fruits during the time of local seasonal fruits,” he added.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said all type of launch cargoes was operative during the crisis. He said industries ministry could be involved for entering international fruit market, otherwise, farmers would face losses.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said mango cultivation decreased as the farmers did not get a good price last year. He recommended that people should be made aware through video clips against using formalin and other harmful chemicals.
State minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said “Ek Shop” (One Shop) an online app – would be launched within three to four days from where all farmers would be able to buy and sell their products. The app can be used to bring products to mega shops and door-door customers as well.
The government should work to increase the demand for mangoes in the local market, and additional budget should be allocated, if required, said, Dr Atiur Rahman.
Bangladesh Truck-Covered-van Goods Transport Owner-Worker Unity Council Secretary Tajul Islam pledged to support the government in the time of crisis. He assured that there would be no problem in transporting fruits.
This year, the target production of mango is 22,32,000 tonnes from 1.89 lakh hectares of land mainly in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Satkhira, Natore, Gazipur, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Besides, the production target of litchi this year is 2.32 lakh tonnes from 32,000 hectares of land mainly in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Pabna, Gazipur, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
On the other hand, expected jackfruit yield is 18.89 lakh tonnes from 71,700 hectares of land.
Pineapple, the majority of which is produced in Tangail, is expected to yield 4.97 lakh tonnes from 20,120 hectares of land.
