Only a very small share of the fruit produced in Bangladesh is exported, and entrepreneurs cannot raise it on their own efforts alone. The government's economic diplomacy must become more effective, said agricultural economist Dr Jahangir Alam Khan.

Bangladeshi embassies and diplomatic missions abroad must play a more active role in creating new markets and helping exporters, he said.

He was speaking at a round table titled "Fruit Processing: Problems and Prospects" at the Jago News office in Badda, Dhaka, on the morning of Saturday 27 June.

Referring to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China on mango exports, he said new markets must be created not only for mango but also for jackfruit and other fruits. At the same time, efforts to take foreign buyers and diplomats regularly to fruit-growing areas should be stepped up.

Dr Jahangir Alam said that although research institutes develop new fruit varieties, they do not always reach the field effectively, and many farmers do not get the advice or technical support they need in time. The Department of Agricultural Extension's (DAE) manpower and capacity must be increased to improve services for farmers.

Fruit prices fall in season but rise abnormally off-season, he said. To reduce this gap, an effective cold chain, modern warehouses and storage must be built. These have been discussed for a long time, but implementation has not made the desired progress.

He also stressed setting up special export zones in areas growing exportable fruit, expanding vapour heat treatment (VHT) facilities, ensuring cargo space on aircraft and cutting transport costs.

Bangladesh has great potential for mango exports, but actual exports remain very small, he said. The desired success cannot be achieved without coordinated action by the DAE, the Department of Agricultural Marketing, entrepreneurs, exporters and the government.

The round table was moderated by Jago News editor K M Ziaul Haque. Taking part were Dr Md Golam Ferdous Chowdhury, chief scientific officer of the Post-Harvest Technology Division of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI); Dr Md Mehedi Masud, former project director of the Year-round Fruit Production Project and fruit expert; Mohammad Arifur Rahman, director of the DAE's exportable mango production project; Enamul Haque, deputy director (food and agriculture) of BSTI; Ilias Mridha, managing director of PRAN Group; Md Abul Hashem, managing director of Hashem Foods Limited; Md Iktadul Haque, former general secretary of the Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA); S M Nazer Hossain, vice-president of CAB; Md Mahatab Ali, executive director of Kaju and Coffee Agro; Chapainawabganj agri-entrepreneur Ismail Khan Shamim; and Naogaon agri-entrepreneur Sohel Rana.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.