When one can easily buy delicious Malaysian 'paratha' at a Kalabagan store or Thai Maggie noodles at a Mirpur shop in the capital or even in shops at upazila level, why can't a Thai citizen buy Bangladeshi potato chips at a Chiang Mai department store or a jute bag in Jakarta? This is now a very big question for all in the country to ponder over. Only a few enterprises have so far ventured to invest in the agro-processing sector but their ventures comprise only a minor portion of the potential market in the vast ocean.
At least two to three Bangladeshi companies have by this time made their mark abroad in marketing farm produce of the country, thanks to their hard work and innovations. The latest has been a Bangladeshi company getting permission from the US FDA authorities for entry of their agricultural processed products to the vast American market. This, however, is no mean achievement.
Another company's spices, mango and lichi juices, now being advertised extensively in neighbouring India, are favourites with Indian housewives and restauranters who never forget to buy those Bangladeshi farm products either in Delhi, or Bombay or Kolkata.
The country's farm products, if processed as per internationally accepted standards, could have a very good market not only in the Southeast Asian countries, but also in China, Europe and the United States. After all, people across the world are becoming increasingly health-conscious and pure and fresh farm products alone can ensure good heath.
But, as reported in the FE on February 24, the Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF) has no adequate funds for agro-processing projects. How far the EEF support earlier was properly used or not involves here a different question, though it remains a critical one. Nonetheless, the fact, as estimated by experts, is that the country's farm projects need Tk 15.39 billion, against which the Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) could provide only Tk 2.88 billion to the EEF for agro projects. What is intriguing is non-use of funds for ICT lying idle as there is no visible interest in the sector.
The ICB has admitted a rush of entrepreneurs seeking funds for agro-based projects but they go back frustrated as the ICT funds cannot be disbursed to any other sector as per rules.
Although a long-felt demand, there is yet no response to entrepreneurs' call for setting up a separate agro-based Export Promotion Zone (EPZ) in Rajshahi and other districts to help make proper utilisation of agricultural resources of different regions. Due to insufficient preservation facilities and lack of efficient marketing tools, the potential of agro-based sectors such as fruits and vegetable is not yet effectively tapped.
A vast quantity of mangoes, worth millions of takas, gets perished every year in the northwestern region for lack of proper marketing tools and preservation facilities. Mango, internationally considered one of the most delicious fruits, has a huge export potential. If properly processed and exported to international markets, the agro-based industry of Rajshahi will secure its due share of the national export basket and help the country achieve a higher economic growth rate through creating employment opportunities, farm industry circles say.
There is also vast potential for traditional sericulture industry, which is on the verge of ruination. The government's promise to develop this sector is still a far cry.
As capital is a major problem for the small and medium entrepreneurs engaged in farm sector, the government can simplify legal procedures in getting money from banks reportedly sitting on huge idle funds.
Zone-wise agro-based industries can be set up on the basis of availability of products and professional training could be given on that basis. The government does need to establish training centres at upazila (sub-district) level to reach modern agricultural knowledge to the farmers. That is why necessary policy reforms are needed and intensive allocation for agriculture sector should be reached out to the proper persons for flourishing of the most potential agriculture sector, especially the agro-based industries in the country.
It makes a sad commentary on the state of affairs that although there are around 12 million farmers directly involved with farming in the country, there is not even a single training centre for them. Farmers need training for cultivating in modern ways but the country is yet to impart proper education about modern agricultural operations to them. This is one of the reasons for which, in spite of having the potential for producing eight to nine tonnes of rice on a hectare of land, the farmers are failing to attain it.
There must be a technical plan of action and a policy framework to help boost the country's agro-economy and raise its agro-based export earnings.
It is time for the authorities concerned to establish agro-industries and export processing zones (AEPZs), provide proper support to the investors, study agro-based market and translate the theories into a reality to diversify farm products in the country.
Bangladesh has progressed much in agricultural sector in the last few years. Although the contribution of agriculture to its gross domestic product (GDP) is about 18 per cent, the contribution of agro-products to the total export earnings is only 2.25 per cent. But the country could have reaped a better harvest if it would have put integrated and intensive efforts in this sector.
The reality today is that there is slow growth and slow pace of modernisation in the agriculture sector, coupled with poor access to market, little access to technology and financing, fiscal anomalies and higher transport costs.
The government should incorporate appropriate policies and an action plan in the Industrial Policy 2015 to ensure a positive environment for the growth of private agro-based business.
arjayster@gmail.com
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