Need for developing a processing centre

Bangladeshi businessmen, despite slow growth in exports of fresh vegetables and fruits, are optimistic of the potentials of such export items. They believe they would be able to export more fresh produces provided they get 'one modern processing centre' for testing, sorting and packaging facilities and efficient and hassle-free airport services. They are for a modern processing centre to help them export more fresh produces by meeting requirements of buyers, especially in the European markets. The concerned trade promotion body has sought technical and financial supports, besides allocation of land from the government for the centre. The fresh vegetable and fruit exporters have now been facing stiff competition from their counterparts from Pakistan, India and Kenya in the Middle-East markets including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. The Pakistani and Indian exporters for their close proximity are able to send their goods at cheap prices 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 in countries where they are in a sizeable number and are at work, are their main buyers who prefer home-grown produces. According to local exporters, the Bangladeshis in some European cities look for fresh Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits. Earlier, Britain was the major destination for local fresh vegetables and fruits. For the past few years, Bangladesh has been exporting such consignments also to Italy and France. Fruits and vegetable exporters say that they are constrained from exporting more mainly by lack of facilities for air freighting. The national airline of Bangladesh does not have enough capacities for this and its charges are also high. A big boost to export of vegetables and fruits can take place, if the carrying capacities is increased and charges are scaled down. There is no reason why the authorities concerned should not take effective steps at the earliest to do that, when such actions would make Bangladeshi agro-products round the world competitive, providing a good source of promising export business. Furthermore, setting up of adequate cold storages throughout the country needs to be encouraged. The use of air conditioned vans in this sector has also to be promoted, with attractive facilities given to the related operators. On its part, the government can make an important contribution by improving road networks to, and from, areas where fruits and vegetables are grown in substantial quantities. The exporters also need to be trained in cutting, processing, packaging, grading and testing in conformity with international standards. Furthermore, the growing of vegetables and fruits organically must be encouraged with no loss of time. Some countries have already made it char that they would not allow or would discourage the export of those fruits and vegetables to their markets that are now found to be grown with chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Given the fact that some such countries are seen as likely major importers of Bangladeshi vegetables and fruits and good payers of prices for the same, there is no time to lose to promote organic farming in the country. Therefore, for the longer term security of this sector, the dissemination of information, technologies and know-how for growing, organically, should be attempted at the fastest. Vegetable and fruit growers also need to be similarly trained to grow the same under greenhouse conditions which is done in many countries of the world. The method is safe and ensures higher production round the year. Besides, farmers should be motivated to produce high value vegetables for exports such as broccoli, gherkin, French beans, etc. Hosting of more single-country fairs abroad to introduce and popularise our fruits and vegetables can facilitate their increased exports. The Export Promotion Bureau and the commercial wings of the Bangladesh missions abroad do need to take up energetic plans to make such agro-products familiar and popular among the foreign buyers.