Govt moves to speed up vegetable exports

The government yesterday approved a Tk 156 crore project to improve the testing capacity of a central plant quarantine laboratory in a bid to increase the export of locally-grown fruits and vegetables.

Under the project, the existing laboratory complex will be expanded, new equipment will be purchased, and 180 officials at home and and six officials abroad will be given training, according to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

"We have taken the project to ensure the export of quality products and diversify our export basket," Planning Minister MA Mannan said after the Ecnec meeting where this decision was taken.

The move comes as Bangladesh's exporters face difficulty to test their exportable crops and get timely results from labs at public agencies, delaying shipments in the process.

The laboratory at the central packing house at Shyampur of Dhaka city has some machinery to test plants and plant products.

"But these testing equipment are also not enough," said an official of the agriculture ministry.

"Besides, the lab is now inactive," said Mohammed Mansur, general secretary of the Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters' Association.

"This is really good news. The lab was supposed to be operational along with the beginning of operation of the central packing house. However, the latest decision will be instrumental for increasing exports," he added.

Bangladesh earns more than $100 million annually through the shipment of fresh fruits and vegetables. In fiscal 2020-21, export receipts from the sector dipped 28 per cent due to falling demand amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Exporters shipped 61,000 tonnes of fresh produce mainly to markets in the Middle East and European Union in fiscal 2020-21, down 26 per cent from 83,000 tonnes the previous year, according to Mansur.

He went on to say that exporters would be able to ship fresh produce after completing the required testing as it would ensure compliance with requirements of importing nations.

Mohammad Anwar Hossain, director of the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said the new project would improve the testing capability of the quarantine laboratory at the central packing house.