Badrul Ahsan :
The government has planned to permit export of fresh fruits and vegetables to European countries only under contract farming with a view to establishing reputation and avoiding long-term export ban from the EU, sources said.
The Commerce Ministry has recently imposed a self-ban on vegetables exports to the European Union market from where it has been receiving objections for the last few years over the quality of Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits.
“The government is now focusing on encouraging local growers to correct themselves following “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),” a top official of the ministry told The New Nation preferring anonymity.
“We are now trying to introduce ‘contract farming’ for local growers who will be allowed to export to the EU market maintaining the required quality,” he added.
Contract farming is an agricultural production carried out as per an agreement between a buyer and a farmer, which establishes conditions for the production and marketing of a farm product or products. Under such an agreement, the farmer agrees to provide agreed quantities of a specific agricultural product.
“The measure has been taken since many are reportedly exporting vegetables through producing fake Phytosanitary certificates. Such practices bring more harm than benefits,” Commerce Secretary (in-charge) Subhashish Bose said.
Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that the consignments of plants, plant products or other regulated articles meet specified phytosanitary import requirements, and are in conformity with the certifying statement of the appropriate model certificate.
“We want to export quality products. Nobody wants to see that the entire market door gets closed for a handful of people who are forging documents or their products with problems,” the Commerce Secretary said. Contacted, he said during a meeting at the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in the beginning of May, a committee has been formed comprising representatives from EPB, Department of Agricultural Extension, Agriculture Ministry and vegetable exporters. The committee is scheduled to write to Commerce and Agriculture Ministries recommending easing rules to remove export difficulties.
“There has been no decision yet,” Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) General Secretary Mohammad Monsur said, adding that he does not have any idea whether the self-ban on vegetables export to the EU market will be withdrawn at all or not.
Responding to a question on contract farming, Monsur said this government initiative is not properly being implemented for lack of trainers at the Department of Agricultural Extension. “Without proper monitoring, farmers cannot grow quality products,” he said.
Vegetable exporters in another letter, last month, to the Commerce Ministry mentioned that it is not justified to impose a ban on export of all types of vegetables in the name of contract farming.
They mentioned that some exporters in the country’s various regions are producing vegetables with support from vegetable exporters’ associations maintaining good agricultural practice and demanded the removal of ban on vegetable export. However, there has been no ban on export of the items to other countries.
