Cargo shortage cripples veg, fruits shipments
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Badrul Ahsan
Bangladesh could earn billions of taka by exporting fresh fruits, vegetables and allied products if cargo spaces are adequately maintained, exporters said. "We've the potential to emerge as a major exporter of fruits and vegetables. But air space shortage forces us to reduce the export quantity," said S.M. Jahangir Hossain, president of Bangladesh Fresh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters Association (BFFVAPEA) Wednesday. Annually, Bangladesh exports around 30,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables in different destinations across the globe. He said, at present, the national flag carrier Biman has no cargo facility to carry products to different international destinations. In addition to ensuring air spaces, he noted that the government should provide freezing vans and a cold storage near the airport for the preservation of the products. "The value of our products is gradually increasing due to higher demand among the Asian communities living in the European Union (EU) and the Middle East," he told the FE. Although Bangladesh's fruits and vegetables are being exported to about 45 market destinations, major buyers are six countries--United Kingdom, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the statistics of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported vegetables and fruits worth about Tk.5 billion in the current fiscal year (FY), up from Tk.4.43 billion last fiscal. Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mango, Lemon, Guava, Litchi, Lotkon, Elephant foot apple, Stat fruit, Indian Olive, Blackberry, Pomelo, Wood apple etc. are the major fruits Bangladesh is exporting. Okra, yard long bean, French bean, Green Hot Chilli, Bitter gourd, bottle gourd, Cucumber, Teasle gourd, Pointed gourd, Snake gourd, Taro etc. are among the major vegetables the country exports to different countries. UK is the biggest importer of Bangladeshi fruits and vegetables, importing as much as 46 per cent of the total shipments. Qatar is the second largest importer, followed by the UAE. KSA accounts for 9 per cent of Bangladesh's exports while Italy 8 per cent and Kuwait 6 per cent.
Bangladesh could earn billions of taka by exporting fresh fruits, vegetables and allied products if cargo spaces are adequately maintained, exporters said. "We've the potential to emerge as a major exporter of fruits and vegetables. But air space shortage forces us to reduce the export quantity," said S.M. Jahangir Hossain, president of Bangladesh Fresh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters Association (BFFVAPEA) Wednesday. Annually, Bangladesh exports around 30,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables in different destinations across the globe. He said, at present, the national flag carrier Biman has no cargo facility to carry products to different international destinations. In addition to ensuring air spaces, he noted that the government should provide freezing vans and a cold storage near the airport for the preservation of the products. "The value of our products is gradually increasing due to higher demand among the Asian communities living in the European Union (EU) and the Middle East," he told the FE. Although Bangladesh's fruits and vegetables are being exported to about 45 market destinations, major buyers are six countries--United Kingdom, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the statistics of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported vegetables and fruits worth about Tk.5 billion in the current fiscal year (FY), up from Tk.4.43 billion last fiscal. Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mango, Lemon, Guava, Litchi, Lotkon, Elephant foot apple, Stat fruit, Indian Olive, Blackberry, Pomelo, Wood apple etc. are the major fruits Bangladesh is exporting. Okra, yard long bean, French bean, Green Hot Chilli, Bitter gourd, bottle gourd, Cucumber, Teasle gourd, Pointed gourd, Snake gourd, Taro etc. are among the major vegetables the country exports to different countries. UK is the biggest importer of Bangladeshi fruits and vegetables, importing as much as 46 per cent of the total shipments. Qatar is the second largest importer, followed by the UAE. KSA accounts for 9 per cent of Bangladesh's exports while Italy 8 per cent and Kuwait 6 per cent.