Govt prepares to boost export of plants
The government has taken initiatives to ensure safe import and boost export of plants and plant products through modernising 16 plant quarantine centres in the country by adopting the required sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) recently approved a Tk 139 crore project in this regard. The cost of the project will be entirely born by the government exchequer.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) under the agriculture ministry will implement the project styled “Strengthening Capacity of Phytosanitary in Bangladesh”, which expected to be completed by June 2017.
Planning ministry officials said in Bangladesh there are some 26 plant quarantine centres, which operate the import and export of plants and plant related products.
Under the project, 16 such quarantine centres will be modernised while the remaining centres will be upgraded gradually.
The 16 quarantine centres to be modernised are in the capital's Khamarbari and Shahjalal International Airport, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, Chittagong Sea Port, Mongla Sea Port, and land ports in Teknaf, Akhaura, Tamabil, Burimari, Hili, Banglabandha, Sonamasjid, Bhomra, Benapole and Darshana.
Agriculture ministry said the project will ensure safe and risk-free import of plants and plant products through adopting effective measures which will protect the country from intrusion of pests and insects from other countries
It will also enhance and bring dynamism in export of plants and plant products following the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and WTO-SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) Agreement.
Under the guidelines of IPPC and WTO-SPS Agreement, it is mandatory to strengthen capacity of phytosanitary for import and export of such products, said agriculture ministry officials.
The government has undertaken the project to modernise and strengthen the quarantine services of the country to stay alive in the competitive international market.
Sources said export of citrus fruits to Europe has been almost stagnant in the last four years and export of vegetables is on the verge of extinction. Export of country's agricultural products is also facing difficulty as the developed countries are imposing different kinds of phytosanitary conditions to tackle various risks.
Under the project, there will be Pests Risk Assessment of eight major crops in a bid to ensure risk-free import of products as well as to export them according to the importing countries' demands.
Besides, there will be six new laboratories and office-cum-training halls, construction of a central packing house in the capital to operate sorting, grading and packing activities of export-oriented fresh vegetables and fruits.
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