Modern processing centre can boost vegetables export

Badrul Ahsan Modern processing centre with packaging facilities and efficient and hassle-free airport services can give a big boost to the exports of fresh vegetables and fruits of the country, insiders said. Despite slow growth in exports of fresh vegetables and fruits, local exporters of the items are optimistic of the potentials of the sector. "We strongly believe we would be able to make a significant growth in export of fresh farm produces provided we get 'one modern processing centre' for testing, sorting and packaging facilities and efficient and hassle-free airport services," Mohammad Monsur, General Secretary of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA) told the FE. "A central warehouse near the airport is also a crying need for an outstanding performance of the sector," Monsur said adding that the modern processing centre can help us meeting buyers' requirements, especially in the European markets. Commercial Councellor of Bangladesh High Commission in London, A. H. M. Ahsan in his report to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on August 18, 2011, requested the authority concerned to improve the packing quality of Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits. The report also suggested to maintaining international standard preservation to make the items more acceptable to the UK buyers. The report wrote, "Vegetables from Bangladesh have a good prospect in the UK market. But the importers here alleged that due to low quality packing and lack of proper preservation, and above all delay in delivery of the goods by Biman, vegetables and fruits from Bangladesh can hardly maintain the standard at par with other countries." According to the report, vegetables and fruits except bananas from Bangladesh enjoy duty free access to the UK while import duty on those from other competing countries is as high as 13-15 per cent. Besides, UK is home to about 2.0 million South Asian people including about 0.4 million Bangladeshis. Vice-Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Jalal Ahmed has confirmed the receipt of the report from the United Kingdom and assured to do his best to fulfil the BFVAPEA demand. "We have had several discussions with the high- ups of the government on the issue and we hope that we will be able overcome the crisis soon." Vice-Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Jalal Ahmed said. The association leaders said, "The fresh vegetables and fruits exporters have now been facing stiff competition from their counterparts from Pakistan, India and Kenya in UK, Europe and Middle East markets including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait." "Pakistani and Indian exporters for their close proximity are able to send their goods at cheap prices to the Middle East countries through the sea-route while Bangladesh exporters have to rely on expensive air shipment. Even then the export of fresh vegetables and fruits from the country has got good markets as Bangladeshi expatriates are the main buyers who prefer home-grown produces." According to local exporters, Bangladeshis living in many Middle East countries and in European cities look for fresh Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits. Earlier Britain and Middle East countries ware the major destination for local fresh vegetables and fruits. For the past few years Bangladesh has been exporting such consignments to Italy and France. According to the Export Promotion Bureau's latest data, fresh vegetables worth $19.84 million were exported in the first quarter - July and September period of the current fiscal year which is 18.59 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last fiscal year and 2.51 per cent less than the export target of the current fiscal (2011-12). The reasons for slow growth were attributed to lack of modern processing centre and timely supports from the government besides shortage of cargo services.