Fruit intake still low in BD

Despite a notable rise in production last decade, the country still has a shortfall of 115 grammes per day in per capita fruit intake, it was revealed at a meeting of the agriculture ministry on Monday.
Though the country's production growth is one of the highest in the globe now, post-harvest loss is causing maximum 41 per cent of fruit wastage, thus raising concern, said Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque while speaking at the meeting.
However, an announcement on 'National Fruit Fair 2022' was also made at the meeting.
The three-day fair will kick off in the city on June 16 with the theme, "year-round fruit production, brings both money and nutrition."
Agriculture secretary Md Sayedul Islam also spoke on the occasion, among others.
Dr Razzaque said Bangladesh has set an example of the success in fruit production in the world with an 11.5 per cent growth per annum.
It is the second largest jackfruit producer, seventh in mango, eighth in guava and 14th in papaya production.
And it has also secured position in the top ten nations in the world to produce seasonal fruits.
He said the current fruit production is 12.2 million tonnes while per capita intake is 85gm which was 55gm in 2008-09.
Though the production has increased tremendously in last one decade, the country still has a shortfall in fruit intake, said the minister.
According to the agriculture ministry, the country's per day per capita fruit intake is 85gm against requirement for minimum 200gm that indicates a 115gm of deficit.
The minister said post-harvest management should be prioritised as loss after harvest now accounts for 26-41 per cent which is a major barrier to raising fruit intake.
He said the government is working to reduce this loss through proper post-harvest management.
"Most of the households in the country grow fruit trees in traditional way planting native varieties having low yield."
He said work is underway to expand the cultivation of improved varieties of fruits there.
He also said various steps including production in accordance with good agricultural practices (GAP), post-harvest management of fruits, mechanisation of agriculture, plantation of exportable varieties, construction of modern packing houses, setting up of accredited labs are underway to increase fruit production as well as its exports.
He said 790 tonnes of mango and 8.0 tonnes of litchi were exported last fiscal year.
Despite a rise in production, the country had to import another 0.84 million tonnes of fruits of which apple, orange, malta and grapes account for above 75 per cent, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.

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